Somali radio chief gunned down
A Somali journalist wounded in an explosion at Hotel Shamo is assisted by nurses outside Madina hospital in Mogadishu December 3, 2009. Somalia is among the most dangerous countries for journalist to work in. Photo/FILE
Gunmen have killed a journalist in Somalia in unclear circumstances in one of the countries reputed to be among the worst places for journalists to work in.
Mr Hassan Osman Abdi, 30, the senior director of the popular independent broadcaster Shabelle Radio, was gunned down Saturday evening in front of his residence in southern Mogadishu by two armed men who immediately fled the area.
Mr Abdi was rushed to the Madina Hospital where he died afterwards. He leaves behind a widow and three children.
The secretary-general of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) Mohamed Ibrahim Pakistan has condemned the killing.
The Somali Exiled Journalists Association (SEJASS) also condemned the killing and called for thorough investigations.
"This killing is against press freedom and the Somali government must carry out true investigations to identify and bring to justice all those behind this assassination of Mr Hassan," said SEJASS chairman Mohamed Osman Husein in a statement.
Mr Abdi, alias Fantastic, is the third Shabelle Radio editor killed in the capital since 2007.
Somalia, without a central government since 1991, is Africa's worst place--and the world's second-worst for journalists to practise in.
Over 40 journalists and media owners have been killed in the last two decades.
The latest incident occurred on December 18 where Mr Abdisalam Sheikh Hassan alias Heis was gunned down in Mogadishu by an armed man sporting Somali army uniform.
Mr Hassan was a reporter with Horn Cable Television (HCTV), a mainly Somali news broadcaster.
Recently, al-Shabaab militants seized equipment belonging to independent radio station Radio Afgoye and also abducted a reporter. His whereabouts remain unclear.
