As the world is celebrating Press Freedom day, Somalia’s federal government has said that it will take all measures to protect the safety of the Somali journalists.
Somalia is regarded as one of the riskiest countries in the world to be a journalist. More than 30 journalists have been killed in the country since 2007, according to Reporters without Borders.
Somalia’s minister of Information Mohamed Abdi Mareye speaking in a ceremony held in Mogadishu on Sunday, he accused ‘’terrorists’’ of attacking journalists while losing the battle in the front lines ‘’ in order to gain headlines’’.
‘’The Federal Government has successfully captured some of these attackers and took them to courts. Some have already faced public punishment, in order to reduce of stop the killing of journalists,’’ the minister said in his speech.
He further revealed that his ministry is planning to introduce new strategies to develop the media houses in the country which have been facing challenges while operating in hostile environments.
Last week, a Somali journalist and his wife were murdered by unknown gunmen in a South-Western city.
Attacks on journalists are often blamed on Islamist Shebab fighters battling the internationally backed government, but some are also believed to be linked to a settling of scores within the multiple factions in power.
