The Conclusions of the ILO's Freedom of Association Committee Violates The Legal Status Enjoyed by NUSOJ and FESTU, both Organizations said in a joint Statement

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The Conclusions of the ILO's Freedom of Association Committee Violates The Legal Status Enjoyed by NUSOJ and FESTU, both Organizations said in a joint Statement

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU) are saddened to learn the conclusions of the Freedom of Association Committee of the International Labor Organization (ILO) against NUSOJ and FESTU, follow

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The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU) are saddened to learn the conclusions of the Freedom of Association Committee of the International Labor Organization (ILO) against NUSOJ and FESTU, following complaints logged by International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and International Trade Unions Confederation both European based organizations that have no presence and knowledge in the Somalia context.

International Trade Union Confederation and International Federation of Journalists both do not have presence in Somalia and only lobby for an individual and oppose the leadership of the Somali Journalists and the Trade Union Center who enjoy full legal status.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is an independent, national journalists trade unions that legally represents the Somali Journalists. NUSOJ’s elections have been endorsed by the Somalia’s high Court and Similarly, FESTU a national trade union center whose leadership enjoy similar legal status. In Addition, Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU) is currently part of the International Labor Organization’s Decent Work program in Somalia, while NUSOJ works with United Nations Assistance Mission to Somalia (UNSOM) and other Diplomatic missions and agencies in the country.

NUSOJ and FESTU were surprised by the decisions of the Geneva based Committee of Freedom of Association of the International Labor Organization that seems to have been reached blindfolded only in favor of foreign organizations like ITUC and IFJ supporting a puppet identified as Omar Faruk Osman, whose leadership have been tested by both Somali Journalists and trade unions at large and finally ousted him for his corrupt practices.

Somali journalists democratically elected their leaders with the presence and observations of Somali civil society organizations and Somalia judiciary so, they they believe that NUSOJ leaders come for an election but there is no single person who will remain NUSOJ leadership for life.

ILO has an office in Somalia and can simply know the reality on the ground, therefore we call upon ILO to respect the sovereignty of Somalia and the decision of Somalia Supreme Court, the highest judiciary institution in Somalia, Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu the Secretary General of National Union of Somali journalists said.

"We are surprised by the decision of the ILO Committee of Freedom of Association and while FESTU is currently part of the ILO Decent program in Somalia? We are absolutely confused!” Avv. Abdirahman Hassan Omar, FESTU Vice President said, "We call on the CFA to double check their sources with their offices in the country before reaching such decision that violates the legal status of our unions.”

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