NUSOJ condemns the murder of another media worker

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns in the strongest terms possible the killing of a media worker in Mogadishu on Monday evening in Waberi district in Mogadishu on 29 October 2012, the latest in a string of violence against the journalists and the media workers in Somalia. This latest murder brings the number of journalists and media workers killed in Somalia in 2012 alone to 18. Unknown gunmen shot to death Warsame Shire Awale, in his 60s, playwright and comedian who was working for Kulmiye News Network (KKN), a privately owned radio station in Mogadishu, near his home at Mogadishu’s Waberi district on Monday evening around 6:30pm local time.  The assailants fled the area immediately. His body has been taken to Daru-Shifa Hospital in Mogadishu, according to the Director of Kulmiye Radio station, Osman Abdullahi Guure. Late Warsame Shire Awale was one of the key players at Radio Drama - “Shan Daranley” - that is aired Kulmiye Radio that always is focused the current conditions of the country. He was multi-talented and was an actor, performer, playwright, comedian and peace activist and member of the former Onkod band and composed many songs during the former toppled government’s era. The National Union of Somali Journalists condemns the targeted assassinations against the journalists and the media workers in Somalia, especially at this critical time and that the death of the late Warsame brings the number of journalists and media workers killed in Somalia to 18. The union sends its sympathy and condolences to the families and friends of late Warsame and asks Allah to award all the media practitioners killed in Somalia in heaven in the hereafter life. “We strongly condemn the continued targeted assassinations against the members of the media community, especially this latest murder of late Warsame.” Mohamed Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General said, “This is a real tragedy facing the Somali media community at this critical time and call again for the Federal government of Somalia to react immediately and bring the killers to a court of law.” 2012 became the bloodiest year for the media community in Somalia.