Investigations into the killing of Somali radio journalist
UN envoy urges probe into killing of Somali radio journalist – UN Special envoy Augustine Mahiga, has called for urgent investigations into the killing of a prominent Somali radio executive, Abukar Mohamed Kadaf, the Director of Somaliweyn Radio, killed Tuesday in Mogadishu. Mahiga condemned “in the strongest terms”, the murder of Kadaf, who was shot dead in Wadajir district of Mogadishu on Tuesday night.
‘I call on the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to conduct an immediate, full and independent investigation in order to bring the perpetrators to justice,” Mahiga said in a statement.
Somali media professionals have lost two senior colleagues in the last month. The Director of Radio Shabelle, Hassan Osman Abdi, was shot dead on 28 January.
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) said in a statement Wednesday it was “disturbed” by the increased violations against the journalists in Somaliland and Central Somalia regions.
Somaliland authorities arrested Mohamed Abdi Boosh, writer for Ramaas.com who also reports for the Royal 24 TV and Hasan Omar Hassan of Ogaal Newspaper.
The two were arrested on 19 February and released on 26 February without charges.
They were accused of publishing a report of alleged Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) troops entering Somaliland.
The stories were published on Somali website, Ramaas.com, and Ogaal Newspaper, both privately owned. The Somaliland authorities deemed the two stories highly sensitive.
The Somaliland’s Interior Minister, Mohamed Nor Arale, summoned the two before their arrest. They alleged they were seriously beaten while in detention at the local Criminal Investigation Department before their transfer to a Hargesia jail.
In his statement, Mahiga, who recently relocated to Somalia, said: “I pay tribute to the brave Somali journalists who are working in incredibly difficult conditions to keep the pressure on these criminal elements trying to intimidate the Somali population.”
“I call on all those defending the fundamental right to freedom of expression not to be deterred by these cowardly acts of terrorism,” he said.
Somalia remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for media professionals.
“The Transitional Federal Institutions must redouble their efforts to end the culture of impunity and halt this unacceptable cycle ofviolence. The UN Political Office for Somalia stands ready to assist however possible in this regard,” Mahiga added.
afriquejet.com