After long silence, US Embassy finally calls for end of violence against Somalia journalists

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After long silence, US Embassy finally calls for end of violence against Somalia journalists

MOGADISHU, Somalia (Horn Observer) -Abandoning its long silence on the violations committed against human rights in Somalia, including violations against freedom of the media, the United States Embassy in Somalia has on Tuesday condemned the killing

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Abdiwali Ali Hassan was shot dead in the town of Afgoye. (file photo)

MOGADISHU, Somalia (Horn Observer) -Abandoning its long silence on the violations committed against human rights in Somalia, including violations against freedom of the media, the United States Embassy in Somalia has on Tuesday condemned the killing of the young Somali freelance Somali journalist, Abdiwali Ali Hassan in the town of Afgoye in the Lower Shabelle region.

In a statement sent to the newsrooms, the U.S Embassy calls for an end the culture of impunity and violence amid increased violence and impunity threatens the country’s press freedom.

Unidentified gunmen have shot several bullets on the head and the chest of Abdiwali causing serious injuries as he was returning to his home in Hawo Tako neighborhood in Afgoye around 6:14 p.m local time. The journalist succumbed to his injuries as he was rushed to the hospital. The assailants fled the scene and were not arrested.

"By targeting and killing media workers whose job it is to educate and inform Somalis, Al Shabaab is bent on silencing the voices of Somali people. We salute the tremendous work that Somali journalists do, and recognize the risk and difficulty in their work environment.” US Embassy in Mogadishu said in a press statement.

The culture of impunity against journalists in Somalia has been on the rise, where some of the journalists’ killers and abusers are not punished for their crimes, forcing the journalists either to flee the country or live in a hostile environment.

The United States said that it stands with all Somalis to defend the inalienable rights to press freedom and freedom of expression.
"We also call for the end of the culture of violence and impunity that threatens it.” The statement added.

The Somali media watchdogs, the Somali Journalists Syndicate condemned the murder of the journalist and called for the Federal government of Somalia to immediately bring the killers to justice.

Late Hassan becomes the first journalist killed in Somalia in 2020. His murder comes days after Amnesty International issued a report on the state of Freedom of Expression in Somalia. The report highlights a surge in violent attacks, threats, harassment and intimidation of media workers is entrenching Somalia as one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist

- Horn Observer -