User:Crtew/Attacks on journalists in the Galkayo District, Somalia

Attacks on journalists in the Galkayo District, Somalia Several journalists have been killed or kidnapped since the start of the Somali Civil War starting in 1993. Today fighting continues as journalists are targeted for speaking in support of the Somalian government. There have been at least 72 journalists who have died since this time. Many foreign journalists have been kidnapped as well, Michael Scott Moore was one such journalist who was kidnapped and released in September 2014. Much of the violence is spread among the entire country, which greatly effects the Country's capital of Mogadishu.

Journalists killed

Abdullahi Omar Gedi

Abdullahi Omar Gedi (born ca.1985 d. 31 August 2010) of Radio Daljir was killed in in Garsoor village. The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) spoke against and condemned the murder. He was stabbed to death in the Galkayo District of Mudug region in August 2010. He was also known as a newscaster and reporter for Radio Daljir. Gedi, 25, was attacked by unknown assailants who stabbed him up to six times in his torso and legs in Garsoor village. He died from his wounds on his way to the General Hospital of Galkayo, according to his colleagues at Radio Daljir.

Ali Ahmed Abdi

Ali Ahmed Abdi (born ca.1986 d. 4 March 2012) Ali Ahmed Abdi was a 26 year old Somalian journalist who worked for Radio Gaalkacyo. He worked in the station for three years as head of programs, until his untimely death by shooting at the hands of the insurgent group Al-Shabaab. Ali made contributions to Radio Gaalkacyo as well as the Somalian news website Puntlandi. Ali Ahmed Abdi was shot in the head several times by three masked men, as he walked home in the north-central town of Galkayo around the Is-Raac neighborhood of the Mudug region in Somalia. He later died from sustained injuries by the insurgent group Al-Shabaab, in March 2012. It was believed Ali was targeted for speaking out against the militant group. Omar Faruk Osman, secretary general of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUOSJ), said in a statement "This is an outrageous and brazen act of cruelty committed against a young journalist and his killers must not be held above the law,".

Farhan Jeemis Abdulle

Farhan Jeemis Abdulle (born ca. d. 2 May 2012) Farhan Jeemis Abdulle, was a reporter for Radio Daljir as well. Abdulle had worked for the station as a reporter, producer and presenter. He was also shot by masked men as he left the office of Radio Daljir in the north-central town of Galkayo, according to colleagues. Abdifatah Omar, director of Radio Daljir, told AFP news agency "He left the radio station and a few minutes later we were told he was dead, It was shocking and unbelievable to all of us. They brutally shot him several times." Al-Shabaab insurgents were suspected in the shooting of Farhan as well. Reporters Without Borders were quoted saying, “We had just issued a statement for World Press Freedom Day condemning the fact that 21 news providers had been killed worldwide since the start of the year and now this new tragedy has confirmed our analysis that journalists are being attacked and murdered at an astonishing pace. Abdulle is the fifth journalist to be killed this year in Somalia, the deadliest country in Africa for the media. We urge the local authorities to find his murderers and to combat impunity for violence against journalists.” Farhan is survived by a wife and three children.

Liban Abdullahi Farah

Liban Abdullahi Farah (d. 7 July 2013) of Somali Broadcasting Corporation was killed in Wajadir village. Two unknown gunmen shot Liban. A correspondent for Kalsan TV, near his home in the Wajadir village, north Galkayo. The attackers fled before police arrived. Liban died before reaching a local hospital, colleagues told the Committee to Protect Journalists. He was known as being energetic and experienced, Liban had previously worked for Radio SBC (Somali Broadcasting Corporation), Radio Daljir, Codka Nabadda ("Voice of Peace"), and Royal Television. Other journalists said they suspected Liban had been targeted for his reporting on local elections. He is survived by a wife and five children.

Abdirizak Ali Abdi

• Abdirizak Ali Abdi, aka Silver), (d. 16 November 2014) a freelance journalist was killed in a northern suburb of Galkayo. Abdirizak Ali Abdi was shot and killed in the Galkayo district of Puntland in November 2014 by unknown attackers. Abdirizak was described as a very active and youthful person, and was said to have a promising future in journalism.The Two unknown gunmen shot Abdirisak Ali Abdi in the head and torso while he was sitting in a public restaurant in the northern suburb of Galkayo. The two gunmen had fled the scene before police arrived. Abdirisak died while receiving treatment for his injuries at Mudug General Hospital.

Context

Mogadishu

Galkayo

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Mentioned locations in Somalia in relation to Mogadishu.

• International Crisis Group

It was reported in 2015 that the raised concerns over the disputes in Galkayo expressed the frailness of Somalia. Especially during its incomplete transition to a new constitutional government. The fighting in Galkayo symbolizes the folly of the Somali Federal Government. As the fighting continues today, local administrations are not fully prepared to deal with the quarrels that will occur between clans for control as well. Galkayo is said to be an example of what happens when "peace is neglected over a desire to show progress".

• Somali World Report

As tensions rose and violence ran the country rampant, the Somalian National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) conducted mass security sweeps although they had no power to arrest or detain. The insurgent group Al-Shabaab; which was reportedly the group behind the deaths of both Farhan Jeemis Abdulle, and Ali Ahmed Abdi, regularly target civilians and civilian structures in attacks. These attacks are usually carried out in Mogadishu, the countries capital. In November 2015, Al-Shabaab attacked the popular Sahafi Hotel in Mogadishu, which killed 15 civilians, including a journalist covering the attack. In December 2014, Al-Shabaab also claimed responsibility for a twin attack in Baidoa that killed at 19 civilians which included three journalists. Leaders of Al-Shabaab display their arbitrary justice by public beheading and forcible recruit of children. Al-Shabaab commit targeted killings, beheadings and executions, particularly of those accused of spying. In February 2015, Al-Shabaab publicly executed two women accused of working for NISA in Jiliib, Middle Juba.

See also

• List of journalists killed during the Somali Civil War
• Foreign hostages in Somalia
• Michael Scott Moore
• Rescue of Jessica Buchanan and Poul Hagen Thisted (non-journalists)