Al-Shabaab takes credit for assassinating critical journalist in central Somalia

Visits: 1523
(Rating 2.8/5 Stars) Total Votes: 22
0 0
Share via Social Media

Al-Shabaab takes credit for assassinating critical journalist in central Somalia

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) In the past few months, journalist Jamal Farah Adan knew that he was the enemy of the al-Qaeda-affiliate group al-Shabaab.

Share

Jamal Farah Adan.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) In the past few months, journalist Jamal Farah Adan knew that he was the enemy of the al-Qaeda-affiliate group al-Shabaab.

"I know that they [al-Shabaab] hate me. But they can not do anything because I am well prepared," he once told friends.

In late December, Jamal went to Galkayo north police station to report about a suspected person tracing him near his home, according to local journalists and family members.

At last Monday 1 March was his last day. Jamal was shot dead by two unidentified men armed with pistols outside his shop, according to a statement by he Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS).

"Jamal Farah Adan has been shot dead while sitting outside his shop. The body has been taken to the hospital,” one colleague told SJS on the phone from Galkayo.

In his 50s, Mr. Adan worked for Radio Galkayo, the city’s oldest station before he became the Somali President’s special reporter in 2005/2006. He joined Radio Daljir where he became the station manager until 2018. Mr. Adan has been recently working as independent journalist based in Galkayo.

"SJS strongly condemns the killing of Mr. Adan and calls for Puntland authorities to launch an immediate and thorough investigation and arrest the culprits. We also mourn with the family and colleagues of Mr. Adan," SJS added.

On Tuesday, al-Shabaab released a statement taking credit of Jamal's murder. The group said that "a planned operation took place in Galkayo town on Monday killed Jamal Farah Adan" alleging that the critical journalist was " a spy".

Local journalists told Horn Observer that Jamal was an outspoken one who campaigned for improving the security of Galkayo, a city that has witnessed a harrowing events of assassinations and bombings by the terror group.

"Jamal was a brave journalist. Whenever a bombing takes place he would condemn and call locals to come united and defend their lives against the terror group. But you know al-Shabaab is everywhere and that is why they targeted him," said a Galkayo-based radio journalist.

Somalia remains as one of the most dangerous places for journalists across the globe. More than 69 journalists were murdered in the country since 1992, according to a data collected by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The country tops the Global Impunity Index of countries where killers of journalists go free.