The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today urged the Somali Transitional Federal Government to launch an immediate investigation to identify the killer -  and whoever ordered the murder-  of Abdisalan Sheik Hassan, a prominent Somali journalist who was gunned down in Mogadishu on Sunday. The IFJ says that this incident will serve as a test case for the Government's commitment to combating the impunity for crimes targeting media in Somalia.

"We are appalled by this cold blood murder of a journalist which has shocked the journalists' community in Somalia," said IFJ General Secretary, Beth Costa. "The authorities must do their utmost, including seeking outside help, to ensure this crime does not go unpunished. Their claim to respecting press freedom and restoration of rule of law will not survive failure to bring to justice our colleague's killers."

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), an IFJ affiliate, said in a statement that the journalist, who was shot after getting out of his car at the gate of HornCable TV offices, was rushed to Madina hospital where he was declared dead.

According to NUSOJ, the slain journalist feared for his life after receiving a string of death threats in recent weeks due to his reports. Hassan recently filmed a meeting at the Somali Transitional Federal Parliament where a group of members sought to remove the Speaker. The footage of the proceedings was aired on HornCable TV which attracted unwelcome interest from some political forces within the Transitional Federal Institutions,  his colleagues say.

"We strongly condemn this atrocious killing of Abdisalan Sheik Hassan. This murder is a massive loss for journalists and media in Mogadishu, the most dangerous place for Somali journalists in their country," said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.

The IFJ has learnt that journalists working in the private media are facing campaign of intimidation in Somalia and is concerned that such an environment can expose them to mob violence and acts of retaliation as a result of their work.

"Somalia is already one of the toughest countries for journalists and any attempts to introduce political rivalries in the country's media are bound to make the situation even more explosive," added Costa. "We urge all political forces to refrain from any undue interference in journalists' affairs."

Hassan becomes the fourth journalist to be killed in Somalia this year, making the war ravaged country a permanent feature on the list of the most dangerous countries for journalists in Africa since 2006.

For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235 22 07

The IFJ represents more than 600.000 journalists in 131 countries