The Somali Parliament has announced a new rule that bans press conferences and interviews both inside and outside the Parliament building, Villa Hargeisa. This decision will have a big impact on journalists who report on parliamentary activities, as they will no longer be able to conduct interviews or attend press conferences there. It also affects the way Members of Parliament, especially opposition members, share their messages with the public.

This ban comes after recent tensions involving MPs from South West State, who held a press conference outside Parliament in support of Ethiopia, sparking public anger. Many believe that this incident is the reason behind the new media restrictions. The ban directly limits the ability of independent media to report on important parliamentary discussions and debates.

So far, no MPs have commented on this new rule, even though it will change how parliamentary news is reported. Last week, parliamentary sessions were briefly paused due to disagreements among MPs, but those issues have since been resolved. However, the new restrictions will make it harder for the media to cover what happens in Parliament.