Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has urged Somali federal and local authorities to swiftly identify and arrest those responsible for the killing of journalist Abdulwali Ali Hassan, and to take urgent measures to protect media professionals in what remains Africa’s deadliest country for journalists.
Hassan, widely known as “Online,” worked for Mogadishu-based Kulmiye Radio and London-based Universal TV. He was fatally shot multiple times by unidentified gunmen on February 16 while returning home in Afgoye, approximately 30 km west of Mogadishu.
According to the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), Hassan had recently received threats related to his reporting on Somali army operations targeting the extremist group Al-Shabaab. Although no group has claimed responsibility, NUSOJ noted that the execution-style killing resembles Al-Shabaab’s methods.
Hassan is the first journalist to be killed in Somalia in 2020, bringing renewed attention to the country’s dangerous media environment. Over the past decade, 50 journalists have been killed in Somalia, including three in 2019 alone.
“We strongly condemn this latest journalist killing in Somalia and call on authorities to respond appropriately to the scale of violence targeting media workers,” said Arnaud Froger, head of RSF’s Africa desk. “Until impunity ends and tangible protections are implemented, journalists will remain at risk, and Somalia is likely to retain its position as Africa’s deadliest nation for the press. A full investigation leading to arrests and convictions is critical, along with the establishment of a dedicated mechanism to ensure journalist safety.”
Despite some isolated legal actions, convictions for journalist killings remain rare. A police officer who shot and killed SBS cameraman Abdirisak Qasim Iman in July 2018 received a five-year sentence in absentia, but has yet to be apprehended. In another case, two soldiers were dismissed after detaining and abusing journalists who were conducting street interviews.
Somalia currently ranks 164th out of 180 countries in the 2019 RSF World Press Freedom Index.
