IFJ and FAJ condemn gun attack on Somali photojournalist

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) had condemned the shooting by two gunmen who seriously wounded Farhan Suleiman Dahir, a photojournalist working for the state-run Radio, and online newspapers in Mogadishu in the capital last Friday evening as he was returning from work. Somalia is one of the most dangerous countries for reporters to operate. However, “Somali authorities must investigate this crime by unknown assailants who deserve to be brought to justice,” said the IFJ. The gunmen escaped the scene after shooting the photojournalist, who was taken to a local hospital where he received medical treatment for injuries to his arms, chest, back and head. According to the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) “Doctors have removed a bullet from the journalist's skull and another from his kidney and he is in critical condition.” President of FAJ Mohammed Garba joined its affiliate NUSOJ to call for an investigation and condemned the "barbaric" attack “aimed at undermining the work of journalists in the war turn Eastern African nation.” “Somali authorities should end this cycle of impunity and ensure that perpetrators of this criminal shooting against Farhan are brought to face justice” said the IFJ.

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