The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), the African Regional Organization of the IFJ, added its voice today to the condemnations worldwide of the murders of and attacks on journalists in Somalia, calling for the international community to step in to help resolve the conflict in the Horn of Africa.

The latest murder on 7 June of Muktar Mohamed Hirabe of Radio Shabelle brings to five the number of journalist killed since January 1 2009. In all these cases, the killers remain at large. 

FAJ believes that the transitional government of Somalia, the African Union and the international community must take responsibility to ensure the protection of journalists and innocent civilians. “The time has come for them to act promptly to bring to an end these senseless waste of life,” said Foster Dongozi, FAJ vice-president.

“It is now clear that the messenger has been made the target in Somalia, and this is a very worrying situation that calls for urgent attention. If we continue to ignore Somalia, very soon we will have no journalist left to report what is going on there” he added.

FAJ and its affiliates have taken important steps to strengthen journalists in Somalia and making their work safer so they can do their job of informing the wider public and the world at large of developments in their country

In response to the latest murders, the leadership of FAJ extended its condolences to the families of the killed journalists and to their union, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ).

“Whilst calling on the warring parties to desist from the unnecessary and wanton killing of journalists, FAJ wishes to declare its solidarity with and its support for the community of journalists in Somalia. We re-iterate the call made by the International Federation of Journalists for ‘an independent and impartial commission of inquiry into the killing of Somali journalists,’ and to ensure that those responsible are held to account,” said vice-president Dongozi.

“The lawlessness and barbaric nature of the attacks on the media in Somalia is completely despicable, and we must engage all concerned parties to ensure that these attacks are brought swiftly to an end,” said Ndey Tapha Sosseh, FAJ Honorary Treasurer.