The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

today has condemned the murder of a media worker in Somalia. According to the National

Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) an IFJ affiliate, Ahmed Sharif Ahmed, a

senior technician of the government owned Radio Mogadishu was killed on 17 August

in the morning at his home in the district of Shibis, north Mogadishu, by three

men armed with pistols. Killers escaped from the scene.

“We call on authorities to investigate this murder and

bring perpetrators to book. Somalia must not be a country where journalists and

media practitioners are constantly targeted. Security of journalists and media

workers must be guaranteed and press freedom promoted,” said Gabriel Baglo, IFJ

Africa Director.

NUSOJ said the motive and culprits of the murder were

not officially stated but media practitioners believe Al-Shabaab militants

group killed Ahmed Sharif because of his work with Radio Mogadishu a government

run and controlled radio station.   

Ahmed Sharif Ahmed, 39, is the sixth media worker

murdered in Somalia since January of this year. IFJ considers this as a horrific

death toll that simply cannot be tolerated. His murder once again demonstrates

the appalling reality facing journalists and media workers on a daily basis in

Somalia and the vital need to improve their safety and protection in the

country.

For more

information, please contact IFJ on + 221 33 867 95 86/87

The IFJ represents more than 600.000 journalists in

134 countries