# BBC Somali: the Somali service of the BBC since 1957

> BBC Somali (BBC Somali Service): history since 1957, its editors, FM and shortwave coverage, its role under military rule and in the war years, and BBC News Somali online.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/society/bbc-somali/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Beginnings

The BBC Somali Service started on 18 July 1957 with two weekly programmes of 15 minutes each. It went daily in September 1958, and on 1 July 1961 the programme grew to 30 minutes ([BBC Somali Service, Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Somali_Service)). Broadcast time has grown since: the service has run three half-hour programmes and one hour-long programme a day ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Somali_Service)).

## The one voice for all Somali speakers

During military rule after 1969, the [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/) media overview on Wikipedia notes, all Somali media was run by the government "except BBC Somali" ([Media of Somaliland, Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_of_Somaliland)). In 1997 the writer Charles Allen wrote that in a Somalia with "three or four separate ruling factions, each with their own radio services", the BBC was the "one single voice which serves all Somali speakers, and keeps the idea of being Somali alive" ([Wikipedia, citing Allen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Somali_Service)). Critics have also challenged its reporting, for example a 2010 WardheerNews article on how it covered Somali news ([WardheerNews, March 2010](http://wardheernews.com/Articles_2010/March/Liban/29_how_the_bbc_somali_misinforms_listeners.html)).

## Where it broadcasts

- **Offices:** Broadcasting House in [London](/en/diaspora/london/) and Hargeisa, where most radio and digital work is done ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Somali_Service)).
- **FM:** as of December 2024, Zeila, Berbera, Hargeisa, [Burao](/en/regions/togdheer/) and Sanaa ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Somali_Service); [BBC, FM stations around the world](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/25lGfHqsvqPgsTVM6z88WGD/bbc-fm-stations-around-the-world)).
- **Shortwave:** from transmitters at Al-Dhabiyya (UAE), Al Ashkharah ([Oman](/en/diaspora/oman/)) and Talata Volonondry (Madagascar), from 90 minutes on weekdays to eight hours on Sundays ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Somali_Service); [short-wave.info](http://www.short-wave.info/index.php?language=Somali&station=BBC)).
- **Partners:** in August 2010 AllAfrica reported that [Shabelle Media Network](/en/economy/somali-media-companies/) had begun relaying some BBC Somali programmes ([AllAfrica, 16 August 2010](http://allafrica.com/stories/201008161420.html)).
- **Online:** BBC News Somali publishes at [bbc.com/somali](https://www.bbc.com/somali).

## Editors

Wikipedia records these heads of the service after the long-serving [Yusuf Garaad](/en/people/yusuf-garaad-omar/): Andres Ilves (acting), Josephine Hazeley (caretaker), then Abdirahman Koronto as output editor, who left in 2016. A joint Swahili and Somali service in Nairobi was led by Caroline Karobia until the two were split in June 2017. Abdullahi Abdi [Sheikh](/en/regions/sheikh/) was appointed editor in August 2017 and dismissed on 28 October 2019. Muhyadin Roble, formerly of Radio Ergo, became editor on 16 March 2020 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Somali_Service)).

## Read more

- [Media in Somalia](/en/society/media-in-somalia/)
- [Radio Mogadishu](/en/society/radio-mogadishu/)
- [Somali music](/en/society/somali-music/)

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