Fifth Somali journalist killed this year

Following news that Radio Shabelle Director Mukhtar Mohamed Hirabe was killed and News Editor Ahmed Omar Hashi seriously injured today by gunmen in Somalia’s volatile capital, Mogadishu, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued this statement…

“CPJ sends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Mukhtar Mohamed Hirabe and wishes Ahmed Omar Hashi a speedy recovery,” said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Tom Rhodes. “This attack shows the terrible price paid by journalists trying to cover the civil war in Somalia which is the most dangerous county in Africa for the media, with five journalists killed so far this year. We call on the leaders of all sides in this conflict to ensure their forces do not harm journalists.”