Screening: Talk Mogadishu: Media Under Fire

Mogadishu: Media Under Fire is the story of HornAfrik, the first independent TV and radio station in war-torn Mogadishu founded by three Somali Canadian refugee families who refused to believe that their country was a hopeless case.

Their vision was to cross the inter-racial and inter-religious divides and forge peace through freedom of expression, impartial news and debate. In this struggle the station comes under attack from the warlords who control Mogadishu and is frequently forced to halt operations from those who want to restrict freedom of speech.

As the situation for Somali journalists becomes even more perilous this documentary puts into focus the dangers faced by the reporters on the ground who cannot leave.

Director: Judy Jackson
Length: 50 mins

Tragically in August 2007, one of the station’s founders Ali Iman Sharmarkte was assassinated as he was driven back from the funeral of one of his HornAfrik colleagues who was also killed by one of the militias. Sahal Abdulle was in the same car and suffered extensive injuries but managed to escape to Canada. He will be giving an account of how dangerous the situation has become since Mogadishu: Media Under Fire was made.