Two men sentenced to life for murder of journalist in Somalia
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Two men were sentenced to life in prison on Thursday for the murder of a Somali journalist shot dead in Mogadishu in 2012.
A court in Mogadishu found Mohamed Abdi Hassan and Mohamed Osman Barre guilty of the premeditated murder of Mohamed Ibrahim Awale, a journalist who worked for a private television station in the capital city.
Awale was shot dead on while he was on his way home from work. His vehicle was found abandoned on the outskirts of Mogadishu with his body inside. He was 34 years old when he was killed.
The murder of Awale was widely condemned by human rights groups and the international community. The United Nations and the United States both expressed outrage and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
“We are deeply disturbed by the brutal murder of Mohamed Ibrahim Awale, a voice for the voiceless in Somalia,” said Lynn Pascoe, the Secretary-General of the United Nations at the time. “We urge the Somali authorities to do everything in their power to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
A court in Mogadishu found Mohamed Abdi Hassan and Mohamed Osman Barre guilty of the premeditated murder of Mohamed Ibrahim Awale, a journalist who worked for a private television station in the capital city.
Background
Awale was a well-known journalist in Somalia who had worked for several media outlets, including the private television station al-Shabaab militant group, which had been waging a brutal insurgency in Somalia since 2006.
Awale’s murder was seen as a warning to other journalists in Somalia who were critical of the al-Shabaab militant group.
“The murder of Mohamed Ibrahim Awale is a stark reminder of the risks that journalists in Somalia face every day,” said Amnesty International in a statement. “We urge the Somali authorities to do everything in their power to bring the perpetrators to justice and to protect journalists who are doing their job.”
Author's note
The sentencing of Mohamed Abdi Hassan and Mohamed Osman Barre to life in prison for the murder of Mohamed Ibrahim Awale is a significant step towards justice for the journalist and his family. However, it is also a reminder of the challenges that journalists in Somalia continue to face every day.
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