Somalia: IPI Calls for Comprehensive Probe into the Murder of Journalist Amun Abdullahi Mohamed
The IPI Global Network stands firm in its denunciation of the tragic killing of Amun Abdullahi Mohamed, a respected Somali-Swedish journalist, on October 18. The attackers have been linked to the Al-Shabab militant group. Sadly, this marks the second journalist’s life lost in Somalia this year, following the murder of Somali National Television’s Abdikarin Ahmed Bulhan on March 13 by a security guard. We are urging authorities to embark on a comprehensive investigation into these tragic events and ensure justice for all those responsible. This isn’t just unacceptable, it’s heinous and demands accountability.
No apparent motive for Mohamed’s murder has surfaced yet. However, the area where she met her tragic fate is notorious for Al-Shabab’s violent activities. As per reports, Somali law enforcement has begun probing the incident. As of now, there have been no arrests or fresh updates regarding the investigation.
Mohamed was celebrated for her fearless journalism, challenging extremism, and exposing the deeds of Al-Shabab through thorough investigations. Having sought asylum in Sweden back in 1992, she worked for Radio Sweden’s Somali division, reporting on Al-Shabab’s recruitment operations and extremist developments in Stockholm’s suburbs. Eventually, she made her way to Abdula Biroole, a modest village located 40 km southwest of Mogadishu’s bustling streets.
“We’re devastated by the loss of journalist Amun Abdullahi Mohamed,” said Nompilo Simanje, IPI Advocacy and Partnership Lead. “We demand an independent investigation and justice for those involved,” she emphasized. Simanje continued, “If efforts to hold the guilty accountable falter, it creates a precarious situation for media freedom and emboldens lawlessness.”
Before she returned to Somalia, Mohamed’s work in 2009 uncovered the recruitment of youth by Al-Shabab in Stockholm. Despite facing hostility and threats close to home, her firm dedication to exposing the truth brought her widespread acclaim. She was honored with the Publicist Club’s Freedom of Speech Award and received a nomination for the esteemed Guldspaden journalism award in 2010.
Press freedom concerns loom large, intensified by a growing sense of impunity for crimes against journalists. Somalia’s journalist community has suffered greatly; many have been murdered for their decisive storytelling, while others face intimidation, physical harm, and wrongful arrests due to their independent voice and critique of those in power.
Data from the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) reveal that between 2009 and 2024, at least five journalists have met their end in the volatile Lower Shabelle region, a hotspot for Al-Shabab’s insidious influence. This includes Mohamed’s case. Yet, progress toward justice remains disappointingly scarce.
Recently, IPI has once again pressed for action, urging Somali authorities to cease the harassment, intimidation, and violence that’s consistently targeted, risking press freedom. This time for change is urgent.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
