Somalia: Death of another TV Journalist exemplifies press agony [Editorial]

Garowe Online Editorial Somalia is one of the dangerous places to be a journalist and deadliest country in Africa as media workers are killed, tortured, intimidated, and arrested arbitrarily without charges or held in solitary confinement according to international press watchdogs.

Al Shabaab truck bombing left a TV journalist working for UK-based Somali channel, Universal TV Mohamed Abdikarin Moallim dead and a colleague and TV presenter Salman Jamal Saed wounded on Sunday afternoon in volatile Mogadishu.

The death puts the number of journalists killed in Somalia since 1992 at 58 according to official counts from Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

As of Monday morning, Garowe Online correspondent in Mogadishu has said, the death toll in the attack climbed to 13 people while at least 30 others are being treated at Mogadishu’s Madina hospital.

Universal TV reporter in Mogadishu, Abdiasis Ibrahim Okey has confirmed GO the death of late Moallim who had since been reporting from Gedo region in southwestern Somalia.

Daud Ali Omar, a producer for Radio Baidoa became the latest victim in a violent campaign to scare Somali media houses into silence by terrorist groups in early May. Authorities are also accused of harassment and targeting media workers for failing to promote own political agendas.

Garowe Online learned that nearly fifteen cases of criminal defamation and libel charges were heard before courts, most importantly in breakaway Somaliland and Mogadishu.

Somalia media, mainly composed of privately owned outlets have been a target for police raids and shutdowns devoid of judicial writs. However, Mogadishu-based Federal Government, Puntland and Somaliland rely on three mouthpieces-Somali National TV, Puntland State TV and Somaliland National TV-respectively for favorable coverage.

On July 21, 2014, Puntland parliament passed a restrictive bill aimed at stripping independent media of free speech and subsequently sparked a protest by Media Association of Puntland (MAP).

Puntland presidency issued a letter dated September 20, 2014 in hope to block access to six news websites from inside the country.

Al though the order failed to come into effect at the expense of Garowe Online, the presidency cited defamation, public incitement and turning of local tribes against each other-something vehemently denied by Garowe Online founder.

Somali journalists critically report on pervasive corruption, culture of nepotism at government offices and misuse of power by people in positions of authority yet the clue is angled at slant in favor of a person and clan. Media members by and large are confident of living rather than profession and are mostly compelled to the deadly career of journalism by interests in the midst of the society.

Media industry has grown ample throughout Somalia but huge challenges would lie ahead if the profession was exercised without practical guidance and training.

Garowe Online Editors and Staff Writers express heartfelt condolence over the death of TV journalist, wish comfort to bereaved families and colleagues in the field, and pray to God for the swift recovery of wounded journalist Salman Jamal Saed.

The death is another black mark blow and exemplifies the constant agony within the Somali press.  

Somalia is one of the dangerous places to be a journalist and deadliest country in Africa as media workers are killed, tortured, intimidated, and arrested arbitrarily without charges or held in solitary confinement according to international press watchdogs.

Of 180 countries, Somalia was ranked 176th in the 2014 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.

GAROWE ONLINE EDITORIAL  

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