Somali journalist in Mogadishu faces death threats

[Deeq A.]

MOGADISHU (Caasimada Online)— Somali journalist, Munasar Mohamed, a senior humanitarian reporter based in Somali capital Mogadishu, said he had been receiving threatening phone calls and text messages since the past few days.

Mohamed says the callers, apparently a group of men from a family involved in killing of Ahmad Mukhtar, a father of 12 kids, who was burned to death after his nephew marrying a girl from their “major clan” in Mogadishu. The victim was from one of the “minority clans” in Somalia.

He said the men were warning him of ‘dire consequences’ after he reported the case of Ahmad Mukhtar.

“I am always threatened to be killed by a group of men, whom I have suspected to be from the family, who burned Ahmad Mukhtar to death over his nephew marrying a girl from their “major clan”, he said.

“How did you dire to publish our case and who allowed you to film it? In that case, you have to die”, the callers threatened, according to Somali journalist Mohamed.

“It will not be tolerated if you act as the mouthpiece of minority clans in Somalia”, the callers said during a phone conversation with Mohamed.

Mohamed called on Somali Union Journalists and other International Journalists Rights to do whatever his life could be saved.

I’m facing death threats after apparent call to group of men over reporting killing of Ahmad Mukhtar, a father of 12 kids, who was burned to death after his nephew marrying a girl from their “major clan” in Mogadishu. Here is the report I have done .https://t.co/ntUHUTYroq pic.twitter.com/U2GQMEWRoL

— Munasar Mohamed (@MunaserMohamed) September 29, 2018

Somalia is one of the most dangerous countries for media workers, 59 journalists have been killed since 1992, soon after a civil war began in the Horn of Africa nation, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

It’s not entirely clear who has been killing journalists, but, Al-Shabab rebels, warlords, criminals, and even government agents all could have reasons.

Somali journalists frequently receive threats. But police rarely investigate them or adequately protect reporters.

The deadliest country for journalists in 2015 was Syria, where 14 were killed, followed by France with nine, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Around the world, 72 journalists were killed in 2015 and 10 have been killed so far this year.

Caasimada Online
Mogadishu News Desk
Caasimada@live.com