The Heart-Wrenching Tragedy of Mohamed Abukar Mohamed
It was a day like any other in the bustling Hamar Jajab district of Mogadishu. Yet, the morning of March 18, 2025, cast a shadow over the city, claiming the life of someone whose only crime was striving to share the truth. Mohamed Abukar Mohamed, affectionately known as Dabaashe, was one of those rare journalists with a passion for his craft. He had the ability to connect the dots in complex stories, to shed light in the darkest corners.
Engaging in journalism in Somalia is no small feat. It is a field peppered with risks, where danger lurks unnoticed until it—like a silent predator—strikes. On that fateful day, just as Mohamed was en route to his workplace at Sirta TV, a bomb attack orchestrated by the nefarious Al-Shabaab struck. His journey, and indeed his life, met an abrupt end beneath the rubble of a building brought down by the blast. The target was a convoy, carrying none other than Somalia’s President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, through Hamar Jajab.
Journalists in the Line of Fire
The immediate outcry was palpable. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) did not mince words, standing shoulder to shoulder with its affiliate, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ). Together, they condemned the violent act that stripped the world of Dabaashe, Somalia’s first journalist victim of 2025. Words cannot capture the void left by his untimely departure, a sentiment deeply shared by his peers and all who knew him. Remember, should journalists—dedicated to truth-telling—live in fear for their lives?
“The death of journalist Mohamed Abukar Mohamed is an irreparable loss that cut his life short,” NUSOJ Secretary General Omar Faruk Osman lamented.
Understandably, the scene was a frenzy post-detonation. Journalists from Risaala Radio and TV were among the first responders, eager to uncover the truth behind the chaos. Yet, a cruel twist of irony awaited them. Instead of compassion, they were welcomed by aggressive law enforcement, suspicious and unjustly punitive. As armed police stormed Risaala’s offices, broadcasters found their channels silenced and colleagues taken into custody, albeit briefly.
Such actions send an ominous message, do they not? In a profession reliant on freedom of expression, the adverse reactions of those sworn to protect only widen the chasm of mistrust. Yet, amidst the tumult, a clear voice echoed: the voice of solidarity. Omar Faruk Osman made it clear that journalism is not a crime. He stated firmly, “Security forces must recognise that journalists are not adversaries but are essential in fulfilling their duty to inform the public.”
A Call for Justice
Echoing these sentiments, IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger declared his sorrow: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague, Mohamed Abukar Mohamed, the first journalist killed in Somalia this year.” His words resonate with the urgency for accountability and peace—a plea to the Somali government to not only find justice for Mohamed but to implement measures ensuring the safety of all media workers.
Mohamed Abukar Mohamed’s story should serve as a stark reminder: the quest for truth is often paid with the steepest price. Are we doing enough to protect those who dare to report from the frontlines? The path to securing a free and safe environment for journalists is long and arduous, fraught with challenges that require collective will to overcome.
As we mourn Dabaashe, let’s ask ourselves: What kind of world are we shaping, when the voice narrating it grows silent? May his sacrifice ignite a change—a movement towards real safety for journalists, not just in Somalia, but worldwide. His legacy is one of bravery, a testament to the tenacity of the human spirit to relentlessly pursue truth, even in the face of unfathomable danger.
Edited By Ali Musa Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
