Somali Media Freedom Defender (SMFD) mourns for the death of the Somali journalist who was sustaining severe injuries at the Madina Hospital in Mogadishu on 26 October 2013 around 10:30pm.

Assailants shot more than 6 times at journalist, Mohamed Mohamoud “TImacade”, on 22 October 2013 near his home in Madina neighborhood.

Late, Mohamed Mohamoud worked for the Universal television, a privately owned Television station based in London.

SMFD sends its sincere sympathies and condolences to the Somali media fraternity, especially the families, friends and colleagues of late Mohamed Mohamoud Timacade.

SMFD calls for the Somali government to end the impunity and bring the killers to book.

“I send my sincere condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of late Timacade,” Mohamed Ibrahim, Secretary-General of the National Union of Somali Journalists, “The impunity is driving us crazy, we demand from the Somali government to end the impunity and bring the killers to book once and for all.”

Late Timacade becomes the seventh journalist killed in Somalia this year alone and left behind a wife and children.

Mohamed Mohamud Timacade, a reporter with London-based Smali TV, was shot several times in the neck, chest and shoulder

MOGADISHU (Oct 22, 2013): Gunmen seriously wounded a Somali television journalist in the capital Mogadishu on Tuesday, police said, the latest in a string of attacks on reporters in the conflict-wracked country.
Mohamed Mohamud Timacade, a reporter with London-based Somali-language Universal TV, was shot several times in the neck, chest and shoulder.
The attackers sprayed the reporter's car with bullets.
"The journalist was shot and seriously wounded... he has been rushed to hospital," said Mohamed Ilkayare, a police officer who was at the scene of the attack.
 



Timacade was taken to Mogadishu's Medina hospital, which specialises in trauma surgery.
"He was rushed into surgery with several gunshot wounds in the chest and neck," said Ayan Mohamed, a medical worker at the hospital.
Eighteen media professionals were killed in Somalia in 2012 -- the east African country's deadliest year on record, according to Reporters Without Borders (MSF) -- and more than 50 have been killed in the last six years.
At least six media workers have been killed this year.
Attacks on journalists are often blamed on Islamist Shebab fighters battling the internationally-backed government, but some are also believed to be linked to a settling of scores within the multiple factions in power.
Somalia's journalist union condemned the "heinous assassination attempt" and called for blood donations with the reporter due to undergo further rounds of surgery.
"We condemn this shocking attack... another direct attack against the free media in Somalia," union secretary-general Mohamed Ibrahim said in a statement, calling for an investigation to catch the attackers. – AFP

Somali Media Freedom Defender sends many thanks to ARTICLE 19 for their kind support of Mr. Mascuud

Somali Media Freedom Defender sends many thanks to ARTICLE 19 for their kind support  of  Mr. Mascuud Abdulahi Aadan, Somali journalist victim who is in Nairobi, Kenya and other organizations which participated that Mascud to be airlifted to Nairobi where the bullet was removed.

Perpetrators Killing Somali Journalists Must Be Brought To Justice

Mogadishu Somali technician  working for the state run radio Mogadishu and SNTV was shot in Shibis, one of Mogadishu districts early morning on Saturday according to relatives.

Eng. Ahmed Sharif Hussein, a long time radio technician was shot by three men armed with pistols in front of his home in Shibis. He was shot four times at the chest, heart and stomach by a time when he departed his residence to his work place.

Sharif’s injuries were taken to Kaysaney hospital where unfortunately he has died a few minutes later

Radio Mogadishu’s director Abdirahim Isse Addow said that the men who shot the radio technician disgusted as school students and soon escaped from the crime scene.

 He was well-known official in the Somali ministry information. The deceased previously worked with Hornafrik, Radio Bandair and other different media platforms in the world.

This  assassination coincided  half an hour later after Somali military court executed death penalty against nvicted of the killing against radio journalist late Hassan Yusuf Absuge who was assassinated on September 2012 in Mogadishu’s Yashiid  district.

Somali Media Freedom Defender condemning the killing of late Sharif and sent condolence to all grieved family and relatives of Ahmed Sharif Hussein.

Somali all exiled journalists are kindly calling Somali Federal government to take investigation and bring perpetrators to justice soon.

Source:- Somali Media Freedom Defender

Somali Prime Minister calls for calm and declares “unshakeable” commitment to press freedom

His Excellency Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon emphasized today the government's “shakeable” commitment to press freedom and advised against a rush to judgement before the Media Law was sent to parliament.

“There has been a good deal of overexcited reporting about the Media Law in recent days, much of it ill-informed,” the Prime Minister said. “The suggestion that it was going to require journalists to be aged 40 or over, for example, owes more to fantasy fiction than accurate reporting. We need calm discussion and sensible consultations and this is how we are proceeding with a series of consultations with all interested stakeholders.”

The Prime Minister stressed that the Council of Ministers had only approved the Media Law subject to amendments being made by the Minister of Information Abdullahi Elmoge Hersi. Once those were incorporated the draft legislation would then be sent to parliament for further debate and consultation, giving additional scope for amendments.

The Prime Minister, together with the Minister of Information and his Deputy Minister Abdishakur Ali Mire, hosted an iftar dinner for Somali journalists on 18 July specifically so they could raise their issues and concerns regarding the draft Media Law.

Mohammed Ibrahim, Secretary-General of the National Union of Somali Journalists, thanked the Prime Minister for the opportunity to discuss these issues. He and a number of Somali journalists raised a number of issues, including protection of sources, the independence of the National Media Council, the Council’s powers, access to information and lifting the suspension of journalists if convicted.

“I am on record numerous times on the subject of defending press freedom and journalist's rights and my government's commitment to this is shakeable,” the Prime Minister said. “I would like to assure Somali journalists and the international community alike that there is plenty of time for further consultations on and amendments to the Media Law.

We are fully aware of concerns in this area and are determined to proceed on the basis of international best practice so that press freedom in Somalia is properly enshrined in law.”

Source; Jowhar

Somali Journalists Call For Somali Government To Widespread Media Freedom

Mogadishu:- More than 50-journalists who work in different media plate forms have attended a meeting held today in Mogadishu the capital city of Somalia.

The journalists  have discussed the recent media laws that was passed by the cabinet of Somali  ministers .

In the course of their  debate, most of of them opposed the government's laws which threats media freedom and democracy.

Somali  journalists in particularly the the journalists who attended the meeting, conveyed  their  anxiety to the members of  Somali parliament who also attended the meeting such as Dahir Amin Jeesow and  Pro. Mohamed Omar Dalha and they pledged the journalists that they vote against the law and protect media rights in the country. 

In history, the media in Somalia has gone through a number of stages. Under the military regime of Mohamed Siad Bare, the media was controlled completely by the government. 

At that time, once a journalist finished their training they were handpicked to work for the government. Thus, if you did not have the backing of the regime, you had no chance in journalism. When the military government fell in 1991, private media  emerged the print press and then electronic media, but unfortunately, the electronic media houses, which were mainly radio stations. 

In 1999, the era of warlord dominated electronic media ended as new private radio stations emerged. Since then, there has also been the establishment of media houses in 2000.

Finally, Somali Media Freedom Defenders is kindly  urging all Somali journalists wherever in the world to talk the federal government to widespread of a free and fair media in the country.

The government has vowed to stop attacks against journalists, but so far little action has been taken.

 

Somali  Media Freedom Defender sends its deepest condolences to the family and colleagues of Mohamed Ibrahim and it the government led by president Hassan has too take tangible steps to eliminate the perpetrators who target journalists by ensuring those responsible for Mohamed's death are brought to the justice as soon as possible.

Mohamed, along with 14-other journalists, had fled from Mogadishu city in 2009 in order to get safety and he lived in  exile in Kampala, Uganda, returning only recently to Somalia, local journalists to survive his pregnant wife and two daughters.

Since  Mogadishu still remains violent and this brutal action  has coincided  while last week gunmen attacked Somalia's Supreme Court complex, massacring at least 35- individuals including former journalist Mohamed Hassan Habeeb and well-known lawyers Mohamed Mohamud Afrah  and Abikarin Hassan Gorad. The two lawyers were known for their role in  defending Abdiaziz Abdinuur,  Somali journalist who was imprisoned earlier this year for interviewing an alleged rape victim.

 
Mohamed Ibrahim Rage, who worked for the station, at his home in the capital Sunday. He had reportedly received death threats in the past, and had recently returned to Somalia after living abroad, according to local media.

Working as a reporter is a dangerous job in Mogadishu. Last year, 18 media workers were killed, most in targeted killings.

"The supposed improvement in security in Mogadishu is for the time being still very fragile," Reporters Without Borders said in a statement. "The Somali capital continues to be one of the world's most dangerous places for journalists."

Last month, a suicide car bomber targeting Mogadishu intelligence chief killed six people, including a radio reporter and the government has vowed to stop attacks against journalists, but so far little action has been taken.

Somali journalists  in exile in Uganda condemn the murder in the strongest terms possible and call for an urgent investigations in the murder case.

Ahmed-sadik Mohamed, Somali journalist activist said, “ On behalf of Somali exiled journalists, I mourn for his loss and send my sincere condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of Late Mohamed Ibrahim Rage.”

 

Government of Somalia to take immediate action to improve security of media workers

Kampala:- EAHRDP DR Executive Director Dr. Hassan Shire Sheikh and Rory Peck Trust Nicolas Rouger Program Officer for Africa  with Somali Journalists in Uganda have Sent condolence with Killing of Mohamed Ibrahim Rage, a newscaster, reporter and program producer for Radio Mogadishu and Somali National Television (SNTV) – government managed media, who was killed Mogadishu.

Mr. Rage had received threats in the past and had just returned to Somalia after fleeing abroad for safety reasons. He is the second journalist to be killed in connection with his work in Somalia since the start of the year.”

Relatives said Rage was gunned down outside the door to his home in Ma’ma’anka neighborhood, in the Dharkenley district of Mogadishu, at around 6:00p local time. The two gunmen shot him seven times in the chest and head before fleeing.

Rage had recently returned to Somalia after several years in Uganda. In 2009, he resigned as a Radio Shabelle Media and he is the fourth journalist to be killed in Somalia since the start of 2013, but only the second to have been targeted in connection with his journalistic work. A total of 18 journalists were killed in Somalia in 2012, making it the world’s deadliest country for media personnel.

On the other side the EU Special Envoy to Somalia, Michele Cervone, condemns the atrocious assassination of Mohamed Ibrahim Rage, senior journalist and reporter of Radio Mogadishu and Somali National Television (SNTV), on 21 April in Mogadishu

He expresses his sincere condolences to the family, colleagues and friends of Mohamed Ibrahim Rage. Rage is the fourth journalist to be killed in Somalia this year. It follows a gruesome series of targeted attacks against media workers over the last two years and it sadly shows that Somalia remains one of the most dangerous countries for journalists to operate in. The EU Special Envoy calls upon the Government of Somalia to take immediate action to improve security of media workers and to operationalise the announced Task Force on the investigation of the killings of journalists and bring the perpetrators to justice.

In carrying out their task in informing the Somali public, journalists are actively participating in the building of a free and democratic Somali society. Failure to protect media workers puts at risk the freedom of expression, one of the fundamental Human Rights, and therefore impedes Somalia’s reconstruction. 

The European Union stands ready to support the Government of Somalia in guaranteeing the safety of journalists and addressing press freedom violations as a whole.

SMFD pays tribute to Somali brave journalists who lost their lives while on duty in Somalia

Somalia is one of the world's most dangerous places for journalists to operate, three journalists including female killed in Somalia so far this year.

 Last year was recorded as one of the deadliest years for journalists in the country since the government has promised to take action against those who kill journalists, but so far no arrests have yet been made for any of the journalist deaths in 2012.
 
 

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), "Somalia” was among the world's deadliest countries in the world.

 

Somali journalists do believe that they are killed because of their profession in spite of that, they should not quit their job for fear of  anyone who is their enemy because they  are be acquainted with that they are serving the people by  providing  society access to the news and the truth behind what is happening in the country.

 

Every morning, as journalists leave their residence to go to work without knowing whether they will return safely or not.

 It is a very difficult environment and security is not guaranteed for those working in the different types of media in Somali and they often receive phone calls from unknown individuals threatening to kill them.

All these caused by insecurity and a failed government for last two decades, journalists have been sucked into the mess

Being a journalist in Somalia is possibly the toughest and most risky job in the world. More than 50-journalists have lost their lives since the collapse of the Somali government in 1991.

Somali Media Freedom Defender pays tribute to the brave Journalists killed while on duty in Somalia.

 

 

  

SMFD is so sad and disheartening for the journalists considering the odds that are facing their profession. It pays tribute to these brave men and women who lost their lives as these pictures show us. This means that working in Somalia as journalist is very hard work which needs braveness and talent.

 

SMFD also calls on Somali government to take procedures to protect Journalists though on 5 February, Somalia Prime-Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon Sa’id launched an Independent Task Force on Human Rights to tackle what he called a “culture of impunity” in relation to human rights abuses in Somalia.

A 13 member taskforce will investigate a broad range of human rights abuses, including the killing of journalist and also recently offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the "successful conviction of a journalist killer to reduce meaningless killing of Somali journalists.

Mohammed Nuxurkey Benefit

Organized by Gabriel Joselow

On Monday, March 18 a car bomb exploded in downtown Mogadishu.  The attackers were targeting a security official, but the blast tore through a passing minibus, killing several bystanders.
Somali journalist Mohammed Ali Nuxurkey was among 10-people killed that day, and one of 3 Somali journalists killed this year.
Mohammed had been working with us at Voice of America. He was energetic and ambitous, constantly offering story ideas and sending us sound bites and information from the Somali capital.
At 29 years old, he leaves behind a wife and a five-month old child.
While our company does not have an offiical system for compensating the family, we at the Nairobi bureau wanted to do something to help them out.
So I'm asking your help to contribute a few extra dollars to help support Mohammed's family during this difficult time.
Your contribution will show up as going to my pay pal account (that's just how this system works) but every penny will go directly to the family.  We hope to raise about $3,000 over the next few weeks.
Thank you from all of us here in Nairobi.
Gabe Joselow
East Africa Bureau Chief
VOA News, Nairobi
gjoselow (at) voanews.com

PUNTLAND MADE STEPS OF MEDIA SILENCE

Somali Media Freedom Defender is strongly condemning the steps taken by Somalia's semi-autonomous region of Puntland to close the private radio stations locating in Bossasso, the capital of Bari region.

Puntland regional administration on Wednesday, April, 3.2013, ordered the closure Radio Daljir, Radio Voice of Peace and 1 Nation Radio in Bossasso.

Putland semiautonomous region has accused that these three radio stations disobeyed orders from Puntland and retransmit programs produced by Radio Bar Kulan and Radio Ergo which are based on in Nairobi, Kenya.

The order to shut down the radio stations was issued by Puntland Minister of Information Mohamud Dirir which asked Puntland Police Commissioner Mohamed Said to immediately carry out the order.

Subsequently, the Commander of Puntland Police in Bari province Osman Afdalow for himself delivered the order to the three radio stations and stipulated to shut down the Radio stations and the stations accepted instantly and stopped broadcasting.

Somali Media Freedom Defender calls on Puntland especially the Ministry of Information Mr. Mohamud to espouse a democratic and consultative stand in dealing with media institutions and professionals. This means that Putalnd regional administration is not ready to respect and promote freedom of expression and media freedom.