KENYA: Journalists concerned at violence against independent journalism in Somalia

Record ID: 361848

  • Title: KENYA: Journalists concerned at violence against independent journalism in Somalia
  • Date: 27th July 2009
  • Summary: MOGADISHU, SOMALIA (FILE - 2007) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF INJURED JOURNALISTS BEING TREATED IN HOSPITAL AFTER AN ATTACK
  • Embargoed: 11th August 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Communications,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA9OBNDSPN74XGR0H24BVZCSEL3
  • Story Text: Somali journalists face what is considered to be the most dangerous environment for media outside Iraq and Afghanistan. Somali journalists have been subject to arrest, raids and other violence.
    The National Union of Somalia Journalists (NUSOJ) has expressed deep concern at the deteriorating security situation and alleged targeting of journalists reporting from Somalia by the opposing sides in conflict.
    Speaking in Nairobi on Sunday (July 26) during the national journalists' conference, one journalist recalled the dangers and his suspicions to be silenced by some Somali sides.
    "I was shot and wounded... together with my boss who unfortunately succumbed to his injuries and died, we are being targeted and always have been targeted to force journalists to stop reporting from Somalia. This is a part of big campaign to silence the whole community. Indeed it is a tragedy," said Ahmed Omar Hashi, a Mogadishu based sports reporter Owing to the lawlessness in Somalia, it has become very difficult for journalists to operate in the country.
    "The future is not so bright, it's bleak because when your life in danger, and when some of the opposing groups are threatening you, you can't just work as a normal person sometimes you are thinking about the news sometimes you are thinking about your life or sometimes you think about the reaction you will get from the news you want to broadcast," said Saleh Osman, a Somali reporter Somali and foreign journalists have also been kidnapped and held for ransom, the latest incidents involved two French journalist who were abducted mid July after heavily armed gunmen stormed their hotel and snatched them.
    The Secretary General of the International federation of journalists, Aidan White, said that journalist ought to be able to report fairly and independently. "Journalists have to make sure that they are able to tell the people what is going on," said Aidan White. "... but it is extremely difficult when so many of them are being killed.. six have been killed this year so far and there has been numerous examples of violence and intimidation," White added.
    Hardline Islamist groups, Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam insurgents have conducted a two-year insurgency, which has killed at least 18,000 people and sent another million or more fleeing from their homes, as violence worsen is the country.
    Somalia's army -- a mix of former rebels, clan militias and a few ex-army officers -- has been unable to beat al Shabaab militants or rebels from Hizbul Islam.
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