Gunmen kill Somali radio journalist in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, May 24 – Gunmen shot dead a Somali radio reporter in the restive capital Mogadishu Thursday, the sixth journalist to be killed in the war-torn country this year alone, colleagues said.

“We are devastated to learn that our colleague Ahmed Ado Anshur was killed in Dharkinley district… this is terrible,” said Abdi Osmail, a colleague at the private Radio Shabelle station.

Ansur, the third reporter to be killed from Radio Shabelle this year, was shot by unknown gunmen as he headed home after work.

A presenter broke the news on Radio Shabelle before broadcasting verses of the Koran in a sign of condolence.

“We have breaking news that one of our journalists Ahmed Ado Anshur was shot dead near his house,” the presenter said.

Press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has described Somalia as the deadliest African nation for journalists.

No group has claimed responsibility for the journalist’s killing.

Somalia has had no effective government since 1991 and in recent years Al-Qaeda-allied Shebab insurgents and other armed groups have taken control of much of the country.

Both the hardline Shebab and local warlords have been blamed for the murder of journalists.

About The Author