Hassan Mayow killed in Somalia

Hassan Mayow, a Shabelle radio correspondent in Somalia, was shot dead when he was caught in the crossfire between two groups armed with AK-47s in Afgoi some 30km west of Mogadishu on New Year’s Day,

“Hassan was one of the nimble correspondents of Shabelle radio and was very sincere for his task of Journalism, we pray for him to rest in eternal peace in the hereafter amen” said the director of Shabelle Hirabe speaking to Somaliweyn deputy director Said Abraham Buuna after the death of the stringer was announced. link

Meanwhile the National Union of Somali Journalists release their annual report (pdf download link) on the state of journalism in Somalia.

UPDATE: The Committee to Protect Journalists has received reports that Mayow was killed by a government soldier,

The three local journalists interviewed today by CPJ offered a different account. These journalists said they spoke with witnesses who reported that soldiers stopped Hassan in Afgoye, a town 20 miles (30 kilometers) south of Mogadishu, and accused him of collaborating with Islamic insurgent groups. One journalist said witnesses were able to name the soldier who shot Hassan. Earlier Thursday morning, Hassan had aired a report on Radio Shabelle that described civilians fleeing violence in Mogadishu, a station editor, Abdi Nasir, told CPJ. Local journalists told CPJ that Hassan had produced critical stories about the army’s harassment of civilians in the area. link

Picture taken from Shabelle.net