New York, May 9, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists mourns the death on Saturday of Mohammed Abdullahi Khalif, a contributor to the private radio station Voice of Peace in Somalia’s northeastern, semi-autonomous region of Puntland. Khalif was killed by crossfire while covering an army raid on an illegal gun market in the city of Galkayo. | Crossfire? Is the RAB providing consultation services? |
“This tragic event reminds us that reporting the news anywhere in Somalia is dangerous,” CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said. “We mourn the loss of Mohammed Abdullahi Khalif and extend our condolences to his family and colleagues.” Khalif, believed to about 25, had contributed news reports to the station on a voluntary basis since last year, Director Mohamed Ali Ahmad told CPJ today. He had worked as a station technician for several months before that, Ahmad said.
Khalif is the 15th journalist killed on duty in Somalia since 1992. In recent months, [Puntland] authorities jailed a radio correspondent for nearly two weeks and, in March, issued a decree prohibiting activities of media groups without prior consent of the government.