Somali poet killed by gunmen

Incident details

(NUSOJ/IFEX) – The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is appalled to learn of the murder of a poet and media worker in Mogadishu.

According to information received by NUSOJ, Warsame Shire Awale, a renowned poet who worked for Radio Kulmiye, was attacked on the evening of 29 October 2012 near his house in the Waberi district. He was reportedly shot several times by unidentified gunmen and was immediately rushed to the Daru Shifa hospital, where he was declared dead.

NUSOJ was informed that Warsame Shire Awale had recently been receiving threats related to comments he made about gunmen who are taking aim at the civilian population. The union believes he was targeted for expressing his views freely via the media.

“We urge the Somali federal authorities to conduct a full and impartial investigation into Warsame Shire Awale’s death and the ongoing killings of journalists in order to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice. Justice delayed is justice denied,” said NUSOJ Secretary General Omar Faruk Osman.

Warsame Shire Awale worked as a comedic commentator at Radio Kulmiye and was well-known for entertaining the audience of the FM radio station. He was also a singer-songwriter and a member of the Onkod singers musical group.

IFEX

http://www.ifex.org/somalia/2012/10/29/radio_journalist_dies/