Monday June 8, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali Information, Culture and Tourism Minister Abdulfatah Kasim Mohamud opened a UNESCO workshop Sunday aimed at preserving Somalia’s documentary heritage, including the historic Radio Mogadishu archive.
The National Workshop for Somalia is part of UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme, which works to protect and provide access to documentary heritage such as manuscripts, photographs, archives, audio recordings and written records.
Lea Simonini, representing UNESCO, said the programme is intended to help Somalia preserve its collective memory and strengthen national efforts to safeguard historical records.
“UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme was established to ensure that the world’s documentary heritage its written records, audio materials, photographs, manuscripts, and archives is preserved and remains accessible to all,” Simonini said.
She said documents are not only historical objects but also carriers of identity and memory.
“They tell us who we are and where we come from. When they are lost, that memory is lost with them,” she said.
Simonini said the workshop marks an important step toward establishing a National Memory of the World Committee in Somalia and seeking international recognition for the Radio Mogadishu archive.
She described the archive as a collection of exceptional national and international importance that must be protected before it is lost.
In his opening remarks, Abdulfatah said preserving Somalia’s national memory is a responsibility tied to the country’s identity, history and cultural survival.
“This workshop on the preservation of collective memory comes at a timely moment,” the minister said. “Safeguarding the historical materials contained in our national archives is not merely a technical exercise; it is a national responsibility aimed at protecting the identity and history of the Somali people.”
He said the Radio Mogadishu archive contains vital records of Somali arts, culture and state-building, and urgently needs preservation.
“The Radio Mogadishu Archive is home to the history of Somali arts, culture, and nation-building, and it requires urgent preservation,” Abdulfatah said.
The minister said his ministry will prioritize modernizing and preserving the Radio Mogadishu archive in partnership with UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme.
The workshop is expected to support national and international efforts to protect Somalia’s archives, expand access to documentary heritage and raise public awareness of the importance of preserving collective memory.
