The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has sounded the alarm over the complete absence of safety for journalists in Somalia following the death of veteran journalist, Barkhad Awale Adan. Awale Adan was killed in the afternoon of Tuesday, 24 August 2010, during gunfire exchange between the Transitional Federation Government and the Islamists group, Al-Shabaab, in Mogadishu, Somalia.

“This killing demonstrates again that journalists in Somalia are being targeted bygangs and militias in the country,” said Gabriel Baglo, Director of IFJ Africa Office. “ The authorities must take concrete and urgent measures to protect journalists doing their work and innocent civilians in general”.

According to the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) Barkhad Awale Adan, 60, Director of Hurma Radio and was on duty at the radio station when he was hit by a bullet during an exchange of fire between the warring sides. He was rushed to Madina hospital where he was confirmed dead upon arrival.

The late journalist was born in Borame in northern Somalia and has been working in the media for that last 30 years. For the past four years he was the Director of Hurma Radio, which is owned and run by a civil society organisation.

“The violence in Mogadishu has made it extremely dangerous for media professionals to carry out their work without falling victims to the ever flying bullets and widespread criminality. We have lost, yet again, another veteran journalist courtesy of the raging hostilities,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.

The IFJ renews its firm demand to Somali authorities to give top priority to the safety and the security of Somali journalists in order to guarantee press freedom in this country.

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The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 125 countries worldwide