Somali journalist Killed in Somalia in 2013

 

Mohamed Mohamud Universal TV October 26, 2013, in Mogadishu, Somalia

Unidentified gunmen shot Universal TV reporter Mohamed Mohamud, 26, outside of his home on October 22, 2013, in Wadajir district of the capital, Mogadishu, local journalists told CPJ. He was shot six times in the neck, chest, and shoulder as he drove to work, the journalists said.

Mohamed, also known as “Tima’ade,” died of internal bleeding around 10:30 p.m on October 26.

Mohamed was an outspoken reporter who often covered social and security issues in Mogadishu, local journalists said. It’s not clear who carried out the attack, although a Twitter account claiming to represent the Somali insurgent group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the shooting. Local journalists could not pinpoint one particular report by the U.K.-based, privately owned broadcaster that may have led to the attack, but said Mohamed had received text message threats in the past by suspected Al-Shabaab militiamen.

Mohamed is survived by a wife and daughter.

Liban Abdullahi Farah Kalsan TV July 7, 2013, in Puntland, Somalia

Two unidentified gunmen shot Liban, a correspondent for Kalsan TV, near his home in the Wajadir village area, north Galkayo, in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, local journalists told CPJ. The gunmen fled before police arrived.

Liban, who was also known as “Liban Qaran” died before reaching a local hospital, the same colleagues told CPJ. He is survived by a wife and five children.

An energetic reporter with vast experience in the field, Liban had previously worked for Radio SBC (Somali Broadcasting Corporation), Radio Daljir, Codka Nabadda (“Voice of Peace”), and Royal Television.

Local journalists said they suspected Liban had been targeted for his reporting on the council elections. The vote was originally scheduled for mid-July 2013, but was postponed for security concerns, according to news Local journalists told CPJ that Ahmed Mohamed Ali, another Puntland-based journalist and Liban’s former colleague at Codka Nabada in Galkayo, had received threatening phone calls in late July after he reported on Liban’s death. The caller told Ahmed that he would befall the “same fate as Liban Abdullahi,” the journalists told CPJ.

Mohamed Ibrahim Raage Radio Mogadishu, Somali National Television April 21, 2013, in Mogadishu, Somalia

Two unidentified gunmen shot Mohamed multiple times just outside his home in the Dharkenley district of the capital, according to news reports and local journalists.

After a period in exile, Mohamed, 34, had recently returned to Somalia to work as a reporter and producer for state broadcasters Radio Mogadishu and Somali National Television. He had covered government and parliamentary affairs, according to local journalists and news reports.

Mohamed had fled Somalia in 2009 due to the country’s insecurity, resettling in Kampala, Uganda, for a time, according to news reports.

Nicknamed “Honest,” he had formerly worked at the independent outlet Radio Shabelle.

Local journalists speculated he could have been killed by Al-Shabaab militants because of his affiliation with government media. Journalists for Radio Shabelle, his former station, had also been targeted for attack in the previous year.

Mohamed was survived by a pregnant wife and two daughters, local journalists told CPJ.

Abdihared Osman Aden Shabelle Media Network January 18, 2013, in Mogadishu, Somalia

Unidentified gunmen shot Abdihared, a producer for the Shabelle Media Network, at around 7 a.m. while he was walking to work in the Wadajir district of Mogadishu, according to local journalists and news reports.

The journalist, who was shot at least three times, died at a local hospital, the sources said.

Shabelle released a statement after the attack, calling Abdihared a veteran TV and radio producer and “outstanding colleague.” Abdihared was the fifth Shabelle journalist to be killed in 13 months.

In November 2012, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud said he would be setting up a task force to investigate the cases of journalist murders in the country. News reports quoted the president as saying, “The era of impunity must stop immediately.” But the president had not followed through on the pledge by January 2013, according to local journalists.

Abdihared, 45, was survived by his wife and two children

Kasmaal information center/Mogadisho/Somalia