The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today welcomed the liberation of British journalist Colin Freeman, aged 39, and his Spanish colleague José Cendon, aged 34, both working for the Daily Telegraph who were kidnapped in Somalia on 26 November where they were reporting on piracy in the region. 

 “This is good news”, said Aidan White, Secretary General of the IFJ. “It is a reminder that Somalia remains a dangerous area for journalists’ work. We have known for some time that our colleagues were held, but we have supported a news blackout to allow diplomatic efforts by British and Spanish authorities to resolve a very difficult situation. We are pleased that it has succeeded.”

The kidnapped journalists were held in caves and obliged to move as their kidnappers tried to avoid rival gangs. Freeman and Cendon, speaking after their release, said that although they at times feared for their lives, they were generally well treated. 

Meanwhile, the killing in the region goes on with the first journalist killed while at work in 2009 reported to be Mayow Hassan, a Somali reporter shot dead in the southern part of the country. His death confirms the findings of the IFJ report on killed journalists in 2008, which said Somalia remains one of the world’s most dangerous countries for news staff.

For more information contact the IFJ at             +32 2 235 2207       

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 123 countries worldwide