MOGADISHU (SD) – Local media watchdogs have condemned the killing of senior journalist working with the state-owned Radio Mogadishu, Abdiaziz Mohamud Guled (popularly known as Abdiaziz Africa) in Somali capital, Mogadishu.

Since leaving the private media and joining the state media, Abdiaziz has been reporting about the Somali army operations against al-Shabaab since 2010.

He was the producer of a TV program critical to al-Shabaab that included interviews with al-Shabaab suspects detained by the Somali security forces.

In a joint statement, Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and Somali Media Association (SOMA) have called for independent, thorough and honest investigation.

“We condemn the heinous attack that killed Abdiaziz Mohamud Guled (Abdiaziz Africa) and injured Sharma’arke Mohamed Warsame and their driver Abdukadir Dhagahow. This attack and previous ones against journalists must be properly and honestly investigated and those responsible held accountable,” Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, the Secretary General of Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) said.

Mohamed Osman Makaran, the Secretary General of Somali Media Association (SOMA) said “We also express our sorrow and condolences to Abdiaziz’s family as we wish for immediate recovery to the injured colleagues.”

“We are saddened by the ruthless suicide attack that resulted the death of journalist Abdiaziz Mohamud Guled (Abdiaziz Africa) and injured Sharma’arke Mohamed Warsame and their driver Abdukadir Dhagahow. We condemn the attack. Somali police must immediately begin the investigation about this particular attack and reveal its perpetrators.”

Somalia is once again on top of the list of countries where journalists’ killers go free.