Freelancer Mohamud Ali Keyre was struck in the head by a bullet believed to have been fired by armed individuals affiliated with the Somali government.
UPDATE: More media murders in Mogadishu (IPI, 14 August 2012)
(NUSOJ/IFEX) – The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) calls on the Somali authorities to thoroughly investigate the murder of journalist Mohamud Ali Keyre (aka Buneyste) and swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice.
On the evening of 12 August 2012, Keyre, a freelance journalist, was struck in the head by a bullet that journalists believe was fired by government-affiliated armed men. Keyre was rushed to Madina Hospital, where he was declared dead.
“We mourn the death of Mohamud Ali Keyre and extend our condolences to his family,” said NUSOJ Secretary General Omar Faruk Osman. “The Somali authorities must act quickly to determine the motive and apprehend those responsible for this brutal murder.”
Mohamud Ali Keyre, 23, previously worked for the Mogadishu-based Radio Voice of Democracy (VOD), before fleeing to Nairobi after he reportedly received death threats, according to his family. He was also a contributor to the http://www.horyaalmedia.com news website. Keyre recently came back from Nairobi due to improvements in the security situation in Mogadishu.
The number of journalists murdered is increasing. Keyre is the seventh journalist murdered in Somalia since January, a staggeringly high number in such a short period of time. Eight media workers have been killed so far in 2012.
“We call attention to the very high levels of impunity that criminals enjoy in Somalia, and demand that the authorities not allow yet another case to slip away unpunished,” added Osman.
