News / Africa
Radio logistics manager shot three times at close range: Somalia
12 Aug 2011 at 08:42hrs | Views
Somali radio executive Farah Hassan Sahal was killed at Bakara Market in Mogadishu on Thursday 4 August, allegedly by a soldier with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) or the Transitional Federal Government (TFG).
According to local reports, the SIMBA Radio logistics manager was shot three times at close range, once in the head and twice in the chest, by a sniper while he and two colleagues moved equipment from the station's offices to a safer location. Street clashes between the Islamist militia Al Shabaab and the AMISOM forces, which have regained control of the area, had resulted in such damage to SIMBA Radio transmitter antennas that the station had to halt its daily broadcast.
IPI Director Alison Bethel McKenzie said: "We are outraged to hear of yet another death of a journalist in Somalia. All parties to the conflict have an obligation to ensure that journalists are able to do their job freely and without fear of assault, arrest or killing."
Along with obstructing humanitarian aid sent to relieve the devastating famine that continues to grip the country, the violent power struggle between Al Shabaab and government forces has also impeded the work of local journalists. SIMBA Radio sports reporter Ahmad Hassan was hit by crossfire while covering a soccer game in March. In the same month, militia groups affiliated with both Al Shabaab and the TFG raided and shut down radio stations in the central towns of Dhusa Mareb and Beledweyne after they ran critical reports. Radio Shabelle journalists were also arrested by government security agents after they aired reports about restrictions on President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's travels.
According to local reports, the SIMBA Radio logistics manager was shot three times at close range, once in the head and twice in the chest, by a sniper while he and two colleagues moved equipment from the station's offices to a safer location. Street clashes between the Islamist militia Al Shabaab and the AMISOM forces, which have regained control of the area, had resulted in such damage to SIMBA Radio transmitter antennas that the station had to halt its daily broadcast.
IPI Director Alison Bethel McKenzie said: "We are outraged to hear of yet another death of a journalist in Somalia. All parties to the conflict have an obligation to ensure that journalists are able to do their job freely and without fear of assault, arrest or killing."
Along with obstructing humanitarian aid sent to relieve the devastating famine that continues to grip the country, the violent power struggle between Al Shabaab and government forces has also impeded the work of local journalists. SIMBA Radio sports reporter Ahmad Hassan was hit by crossfire while covering a soccer game in March. In the same month, militia groups affiliated with both Al Shabaab and the TFG raided and shut down radio stations in the central towns of Dhusa Mareb and Beledweyne after they ran critical reports. Radio Shabelle journalists were also arrested by government security agents after they aired reports about restrictions on President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's travels.
Source - www.freemedia.at
