Radio Bar-kulan correspondent recovers in hospital following assassination attempt

Shortly after 7pm last night a correspondent of Radio Bar Kulan, Mohamed Noor Mohamed Sharif, was returning home from work when he was attacked by three unknown gunmen in Hamar-Jabjab district of Mogadishu.

Mohamed had just finished work when he was shot outside the Horn Cable TV studios. The assailants fled after a friend and colleague, who was with Mohamed at the time, chased them away. The nature of the attempt indicates this to be one of a wave of attacks targeting journalists in the capital of Somalia.

Somali journalists came together to help in the recovery and treatment of Mohamed providing life-saving blood transfusion, he is now recovering in hospital having undergone surgery, he and his family are receiving support.

Mohamed has been with Radio Bar Kulan for more than 2 years. This is the second time he received wounds during the course of duties, as he was injured during the National Theatre blast on April 4 earlier this year.

Salah Osman Dirye, the senior news editor of Radio Bar Kulan, said:

“We at Radio Bar Kulan believe in peace for all Somalis. We are all appalled by this evil attack on one of our professional and most esteemed colleagues. Mohamed was a fearless journalist and we are not cowed. We are doing everything we can to help him and his family during this difficult time.

“The world cannot ignore the campaign of assassinations that is being launched against Somali journalists. A vibrant media is the lifeblood of a strong and stable country, and must be protected.”

Ten assassination attempts have been made on journalists in Somalia in the past five months, resulting in six deaths, making the country one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists to operate. Those who have been killed are: two from Shabelle, one Horn Cable TV, two Galkayo journalists (one Daljir Radio and one freelancer), one from Somaliweyn.

Radio Bar Kulan is an UN-funded radio station, founded on the principle of editorial independence. Well-liked for its impartial news reporting, sport and entertainment programming, it has risen in popularity to become a widely listened radio station since its launch in 2010. It broadcasts in Mogadishu, Bossasso and its output is streamed on its website.

During its first years of broadcast, while the city was partially under al Shabaab control, it was respected for its brave editorial line in highlighting the violent and tyrannical rule of the foreign-backed extremists. It is now expanding its coverage to other parts of Somalia.

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Kashife Online