Somali Reporter Killed, Raising Toll to 16

Ahmed Farah Sakin

A Somali journalist was shot to death in northern Somalia, bringing the number of journalists killed in Somalia this year to 16.
Ahmed Farah Sakin, a reporter for the Somali television station Universal was shot by gunmen around 9 p.m. Tuesday in the town of Lasanod in the breakaway region of Somaliland. The death was confirmed Wednesday by Abdullahi Ahmed Nor, a colleague. Nor said the death was part of an "anti-media" campaign in the country.

Somalia has been one of the most dangerous places to operate as a journalist this year. Mogadishu is far safer than it was in previous years, since al-Shabab rebels were forced out of the city. But a campaign targeting journalists has accelerated this year. No suspects have been arrested in the killings.

The list of Journalists killed in Somalia in 2012:

● Jan. 28: Gunmen kill Hassan Osman Abdi, the director of Shabelle radio in Mogadishu.

● Feb. 28: Gunmen kill Abukar Hassan Mohamoud, the director of Somaliweyn Radio in Mogadishu.

● March 4: Ali Ahmed Abdi, a reporter for Radio Galkayo, was killed in Galkayo in central Somalia

● April 5: Mahad Salad Aden, a reporter with Shabelle radio, was killed in Beledweyne, central Somalia.

●  May 2: Farhan Jeemis Abdulle, a reporter with Radio Daljir, was killed in Galkayo.

●  May 23: Ahmed Addow Anshur, a producer with Shabelle radio, was killed in Mogadishu.

● July 31: Abdi Jeylani Malaq, a Somali comedian and TV producer, was killed in Mogadishu.

● Aug. 12: Yusuf Ali Osman, a veteran reporter who had been serving as the director of Somalia's Information Ministry. Journalist Mohamud Ali Yare, killed in crossfire after government troops open fire on each other at a sports stadium.

 ● Sept. 20: Liban Ali Nur, an editor at Somali National TV; Abdisatar Daher Sabriye, a reporter with Radio Mogadishu; and Abdirahman Yasin Ali, the director of Radio Hamar. All three were killed when suicide bombers blew themselves up inside a popular café in Mogadishu.

● Sept. 21: Hassan Yusuf Absuge, Radio Maanta was killed in Mogadishu.

●  Sept. 27: The decapitated body of Abdirahman Mohamed Ali, a sportswriter was found north of Mogadishu.

● Sept. 28: Ahmed Abdullahi Fanah, a reporter with the Yemeni news agency SABA, was killed in Mogadishu.

● Oct. 23: Ahmed Saakin Farah killed by gunmen in Somaliland.

Source: Associated Press