National Workshop on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme Concludes in Mogadishu

Mogadishu, (SONNA) — The National Workshop on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme, organized by UNESCO with support from the JFIT Programme funded by the Government of Japan, concluded today in Mogadishu. The workshop brought together representatives from government institutions, experts, and key stakeholders engaged in the preservation of heritage, culture, literature, history, and national memory archives.

During the workshop, participants were introduced to the Memory of the World Programme and UNESCO’s role in safeguarding documentary heritage. Presentations were also delivered on the assessment of the historic Radio Mogadishu Archive and the importance of preserving, digitizing, and enhancing public access to this invaluable historical collection, which carries Somalia’s recorded memory dating back to 1951.

The second day of the workshop focused on the procedures for registering documentary heritage, Somalia’s preparedness to participate in the Memory of the World Programme, and the establishment of a National Committee to coordinate efforts aimed at preserving and safeguarding Somalia’s historical heritage.

At the closing, Abdishakur Ali Ahmed, Director of Communication Strategy at the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of the Federal Government of Somalia, described the workshop as an important milestone in building Somalia’s understanding of the Memory of the World Programme. He noted that it could pave the way for Somalia to benefit from opportunities to safeguard, register, and preserve the historic Radio Mogadishu Archive and the country’s broader documentary heritage.