Somalia: IPI Calls for a Comprehensive Probe into the Murder of Journalist Amun Abdullahi Mohamed
On October 18, 2024, Amun Abdullahi, a remarkable journalist aged 49, lost her life in Afgoye, Somalia, under tragic circumstances.
The International Press Institute (IPI) vocally denounces the brutal murder of Amun Abdullahi Mohamed, a distinguished Somali-Swedish journalist gunned down by a duo allegedly linked to the insurgent outfit Al-Shabab. Her death marks the second journalist murder in Somalia this year, following Abdikarin Ahmed Bulhan from Somali National Television, who was tragically killed on March 13 by a security officer. The IPI implores authorities to dive deep into this horrific incident, ensuring that those responsible face justice.
Details surrounding the motive for Amun’s untimely death remain shrouded in mystery, though the region is notorious for conflict instigated by Al-Shabab. Reports convey that the Somali leadership has embarked on an investigative journey to uncover the truth behind her death. Despite these efforts, no arrests or substantial investigative progress has been shared at this time.
Amun, a journalist of renown, bravely exposed the sinister workings of Al-Shabab and extremist ideologies through her penetrating reports. Her journey began in 1992 when she sought refuge in Sweden, contributing to Radio Sweden’s Somali section and spotlighting Al-Shabab’s recruitment operations and extremist activities in Stockholm’s outskirts. Her path later led her back to Somalia, where she resided in Abdula Biroole, a quaint village in the Afgoye district, nestled 40 kilometers from Mogadishu’s bustling heart.
“The murder of journalist Amun Abdullahi Mohamed weighs heavily on our hearts,” expressed Nompilo Simanje, IPI’s Advocacy and Partnership Lead. “A comprehensive, independent inquiry paired with the prosecution of her killers is non-negotiable. Letting this slide would foster a perilous climate for media freedom and nurture a culture of impunity.”
Back in 2009, before her return to Somalia, Mohamed’s investigative efforts unveiled Al-Shabab’s recruitment of Stockholm’s youth. Her audacious journalism captured nationwide attention and sparked backlash within her community. Notwithstanding the hostility, her unwavering passion for unveiling truths about extremism earned her accolades like the Publicist Club’s Freedom of Speech Award and a nod for Sweden’s esteemed Guldspaden journalism award in 2010.
The plight of press freedom has never been more concerning, with crimes against journalists largely remaining unpunished. Courageous journalists in Somalia have been slain for their vocation, with many more enduring threats, assaults, and unauthorized detainment due to their fearless investigations and critiques of the governing bodies.
The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) reveals a grim statistic: between 2009 and 2024, at least five journalists met their end in the militant-ravaged Lower Shabelle region, with negligible action against perpetrators, a list now including Amun’s tragic case.
Amidst these troubling times, the IPI renews its plea to Somali authorities to eradicate the hostility and violence meted out to journalists by both state forces and Al-Shabab, alongside numerous other obstacles plaguing press freedom.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
