Nairobi, July 8, 2013–Two unidentified gunmen killed TV reporter Liban Abdullahi on Sunday evening in Galkayo, a central town in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, according to local journalists and news reports.

Liban, who was also known as “Liban Qaran,” had left his office and was headed to his home in Wadajir village in northern Galkayo when unidentified gunmen approached and shot him several times, according to Mohamed Gelle, an eyewitness to the attack, who spoke to Agence France-Presse. The assailants fled the scene before security officers arrived. Liban died from his injuries upon reaching a hospital, local journalists said.

Liban was covering the lead-up to the July 15 council elections as a correspondent for the newly launched, U.K.-based Kalsan satellite television station, according to news reports and local journalists. In Puntland’s first democratic council elections, four registered political associations will be competing for district council seats. Parliamentary elections will follow later this year, news reportssaid.

“The fatal attack on a journalist covering landmark elections in Puntland is alarming,” said CPJ East Africa Consultant Tom Rhodes. “Authorities must do their utmost to investigate and apprehend the perpetrators.”

Liban had worked for a variety of broadcasters in the past 10 years, including Radio SBC (Somali Broadcasting Corporation), Radio Daljir, Codka Nabadda (“Voice of Peace”), and Royal Television, local journalists said. He is survived by a wife and five children.

At least two journalists were killed earlier in 2013 in direct relation to their work in Somalia, which CPJhas ranked the deadliest place in Africa to practice journalism. Twelve journalists were murdered for their work in the country in 2012, with none of the killings resolved, according to CPJ research. Somalia ranks second-worst on CPJ’s 2012 Impunity Index, which spotlights countries where journalists are murdered regularly and killers go free.

·      For more data and analysis on Somalia, visit CPJ’s Somalia page here.

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CPJ is an independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide.
Contact:
Sue Valentine
Africa Program Coordinator
svalentine@cpj.org
+27 82.376.0960

Mohamed Keita
Africa Advocacy Coordinator
Tel. +1.212.465.1004 ext. 117
Email: mkeita@cpj.org

Tom Rhodes
East Africa Consultant
Email: trhodes@cpj.org

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1 COMMENT

  1. Hassan Mahamoud is attempting to cause War in Puntland just like he did in Jubaland.

    1. He will funds arm groups in Gaalkaciyo
    2. Attempt to blame piracy activity on puntland
    3. Organise a suicide attack in Puntland
    4. Attempt to use dollars to gain Leelkase opposition groups
    5. Fund the Galgala repels

    It is naked war between Abgaal -vs- Majeerteen…

    Anything is possible.

  2. mogadisho is much safer then puntland, everday 50 people or more are killed in mosques or outside their houses. there sould be amison presence in puntland