Somaliland National Television (SLNTV)

Somaliland National Television (SLNTV) is the official station of the government of Somaliland, a self-declared state that is considered part of Somalia. SLNTV was established in 2005 and airs from the territory’s largest city, Hargeisa. The channel focuses on local news.


Media assets

Television: SLNTV

State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)


Ownership and governance

SLNTV was established through a ministerial charter and is subordinated to the Ministry of Information and National Guidance, which appoints its management. The minister personally appoints the head of SLNTV.

Source of funding and budget

There is no detailed information about SLNTV’s sources of financing. Local journalists and foreign experts specializing in Somalia say that the newspaper is fully financed by the government. According to an expert consulted for this report, SLNTV operates with a budget of over US$ 26m a year (approximately SOS 16bn).

Editorial independence

SLNTV is widely known as a propaganda channel of the Somaliland government, according to local journalists and foreign experts specializing in Somalia.

There is no domestic statute and no independent mechanism to validate the editorial independence of SLNTV.

September 2023