The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned in the strongest terms, the violent killing of Somali journalist, Farah Hassan Sahal, who was shot dead at Bakara Market in Mogadishu allegedly by a soldier from the peace keeping troops of the Africa Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on Thursday, 4 August, 2011. Farah Hassan Sahal was working as a newscaster with the private radio station, Radio Simba.
“The killing of Farah Hassan Sahal is shocking and unbelievable” said Gabriel Baglo, Director of the IFJ Africa office. “The nature of the killing denotes that Farah Hassan Sahal was specifically targeted and it is just hard to believe that fingers are being pointed on those who have been given the mandate to protect life and property in Somalia. This is unacceptable.”
According to a statement issued by NUSOJ, IFJ affiliate in Somalia, Farah Sahal was with two of his colleagues while trying to move some media equipment to a safer area near the radio station when he was shot at point blank rage. The Director of Simba Radio, Abdullahi Ali Farah said that Farah Hassan Sahal was shot in the head and chest at the gate of the radio station.
The IFJ calls on the Somali Transitional Federal Government and the AMISOM high command to conduct a swift independent investigation into the death of Farah Hassan Sahal, and to ensure that the perpetrator(s) of this crime against humanity is brought to justice.
The credibility of the TFG and AMISOM is being put to the test and they must do everything possible to ensure that impunity does not prevail in the ranks of those charged with the responsibility to defend the people of Somalia. The culprits must be brought to justice sooner than later.
For more information contact the IFJ at +221 33 867 95 87 / +32 2 235 2200
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 131 countries worldwide