The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called for action by the Somali authorities to halt the rising death toll after the killing of two journalists yesterday in an ambush in Jowhar, north of Mogadishu, according to a release.ÂÂÂ
Abshir Ali Gabra and Ahmed Hassan were killed when a convoy of Somali
government officials that they were a part of came under fire.
“We are appalled by the deaths of Abshir and Ahmed just 11 days after
another journalist Mohammed Khalif was shot in Somalia,†said Gabriel
Baglo Director of IFJ Africa Office. “The African Union, the United
Nations and the international community must act to end this continuous
slaughter of journalists.â€ÂÂ
The IFJ also called on the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG)
and the armed groups to cease attacks on journalists and media workers.
Ali Gabra, a journalist with the radio station IQK FM based in
Mogadishu and Hassan, a journalist with SBC Radio in Bosaso in Northern
Somalia were part of a government convoy travelling to report on
mediation efforts to resolve a conflict in Jowhar. According to
Shabelle Media Network, armed men ambushed the convoy and riddled the
first vehicle with bullets. Six government soldiers were also killed.
Four journalists have been killed so far this year in Somalia.
According to IFJ records, 2007 is now the worst year for Somali
journalists since 1993 when 11 journalists died in the country.
“We renew our call for the government to investigate the death of all
the journalists killed in Somalia and to take measures to improve
journalists’ safety,†added Baglo.
