Somalia: Two journalists killed in Mogadishu on Saturday 11 August 2007
Ali Iman SharmarkeFront Line is saddened to hear of the assassination of two journalists and human rights defenders, Ali Iman Sharmarke and Mahad Ahmed Elmi, on 11 August 2007. Ali Iman Sharmarke, Director and founder of independent media group Horn Afrik, and Mahad Ahmed Elmi, Director of the radio station Capital Voice, were killed in separate attacks.
Mahad Ahmed Elmi was shot dead by two gunmen on his way to work at approximately 7.40 am on Saturday 11 August 2007. He worked with Capital Voice, a radio station belonging to Horn Afrik's media group which covers day-to-day violence.
Ali Iman Sharmarke was killed by a roadside mine, which was reportedly remotely detonated while he was travelling back from the funeral of Mahad Ahmed Elm, who had been buried Saturday morning. Ali Iman Sharamarke was a Somali-Canadian citizen. He established the first independent media house nine years ago. The media group has two radio stations and one television channel. He was also a member of a national civil society freedom of expression forum.
These two deaths bring the death toll of Somali journalists to six in 2007. Since an Islamist militia was ousted by Ethiopian-backed government troops, insurgents have been carrying out hit and run attacks, and journalists are increasingly targeted because of their independent reporting. Apparently, two men have been arrested by the Somali military in connection to the killings.