Hassan Yusuf Absuge, head of programme at Radio Maanta, was shot dead by men armed with pistols at the Bar Ayaan junction in Mogadishu. He is the fourth journalist to be killed in less than 24 hours in Somalia.
(NUSOJ/IFEX) – 21 September 2012 – The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) deplores the targeted murder of a fourth journalist in less than 24 hours in Mogadishu.
Hassan Yusuf Absuge, head of programme at Radio Maanta, was shot dead by men armed with pistols at the Bar Ayaan junction in Mogadishu. Absuge died on the spot after he was shot in the head.
“We extend our deepest condolences to Hassan Yusuf Absuge’s family. It is very miserable and viciou[s] that when journalists atten[d] the burial of three of their colleagues, they have to hear another colleague is killed,” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.
This afternoon, the militant group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for killing Absuge because he was working as “spy” against “Allah’s forces.” NUSOJ completely rejects this baseless and inhumane allegation against Absuge which was used to eliminate him. He was a professional journalist who had been carrying out his work proficiently.
“No one is protecting journalists. Despite increased attention and engagement by the world community to Somalia, [the] protection of journalist[s] has become an empty talk that has no result,” added Osman.
Three journalists were killed in double suicide bomb attack at “The Village” restaurant in Mogadishu on Thursday evening. Six journalists were also wounded in this villainous attack.
“The culture of impunity has become ever more strongly entrenched because of the failure to bring those responsible for the murder and harassment of journalists to book,” declared Osman.
Absuge, a well-known radio journalist who was a member of the union, is the thirteenth journalist to be murdered in Somalia since January this year. Radio Maanta is a newly established Radio station, and is privately owned.
