Heartfelt Appeal and Accountability for Somali Journalist’s Tragic Demise

MOGADISHU, Somalia, October 26, 2024 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) voices outrage over the murder of Amun Abdullahi Mohamed, a trailblazing Somali-Swedish journalist, fatally shot in a serene hamlet in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle on October 18. A thorough probe into this grievous act is urgently demanded.

Amun’s death occurred in Abdula Biroole, a village nestled about 40 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu. She fell victim to gunmen, believed to be part of the al-Shabaab faction, as she made her way to her fields of sorghum and watermelon.

According to those speaking off the record, fearing for their own necks, two armed individuals with AK-47s intercepted Amun, confirmed her identity, and unleashed a brutal barrage of bullets.

One security honcho in Afgoye district remarked that the attackers are known to be al-Shabaab affiliates, and the area remains firmly under their grasp. Venturing there spells nothing short of peril, thus barring police presence.

Aged 49, Amun had relocated from Sweden to this rustic haven, living with her extended kin. Her farming endeavors provided not just sustenance for the land but jobs for those in need. A local journalist recounted her generous care for her extended family.

Her reportage made waves during the ’90s after fleeing war-torn Somalia for Sweden. There, she worked with Sveriges Radio, emerging as a voice in the Somali community. In 2010, she was awarded by the Swedish Publicist Club for her fearless exposé on al-Shabaab’s recruitment of youth from Stockholm, which put her life at risk through grim threats.

Nonetheless, Amun returned to her roots in Lower Shabelle, undeterred by dangers and threats that loomed over her. Despite her contributions, an official from Afgoye confessed that no formal inquiry has commenced as yet.

Amun stands as the second journalist her life cut short in Somalia this year, the latest casualty in a perilous media landscape as documented by SJS and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Previous Fatalities:

On February 16, 2020, freelancer Abdiwali Ali Hassan, known as Abdiwali Online, was gunned down in Afgoye.

On August 14, 2019, camera journalist Abdinasir Abdulle Ga’al succumbed to a car bomb attack at an army base.

On October 27, 2018, Radio Darul Sunnah’s Abdullah Mire Hashi met his end at the hands of gun-toting assailants.

The new year of 2009 began with the loss of Hassan Mayow Hassan in an attack in Afgoye.

SJS calls for an expansive inquiry into Amun’s murder, urging Somali authorities to work tirelessly to bring justice to those responsible. The Swedish government is implored to assist in pursuit of justice, and our thoughts are with Amun’s loved ones. Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.

“We’re stunned by the sheer brutality inflicted upon yet another journalist in our nation,” expressed SJS Secretary General Abdalle Mumin. “Amun had opted to return and contribute to her community through her agricultural pursuits, even amid life-threatening warnings.”

Mr. Mumin stressed the imperative need for a prompt and exhaustive investigation to bring the wrongdoers to book. “This heart-wrenching loss highlights an urgent call for enhanced protective measures for journalists, achieving which demands ending the impunity shrouding crimes against them. We beseech both local entities and the global community to insist on responsibility and secure journalists’ livelihoods within Somalia,” he urged.

(Source: SJS Statement)