IF TRUTH IS THE FIRST CASUALTY OF WAR, JOURNALIST CANNOT BE FAR BEHIND

October 25, 2012

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia has only been in office for a few weeks and despite his excellent credentials, it will no doubt take a good while before he can start making an impact.

Mr Mohamud has to deal with al-Shabab, the Islamist group that is linked to al-Qaeda and that has wielded control over much of the country, and the host of other problems linked to secessionists, the economy and security.

Security is particularly problematic if you happen to be a journalist. This week, yet another has been assassinated, bringing the total killed to 16 so far this year. Ahmed Saakin Farah Ilyas was a television journalist with Universal Television operating in the breakaway, and generally more peaceful territory of Somaliland; he was shot on October 23, at just 25 years of age.

Reporters Without Borders, now ranks Somalia with Syria at the top of the list of deadliest countries for journalists. However, it appears as though the culprits are not solely from the ranks of al-Shabab. Powerful politicians and businessmen are also alleged to be involved. As yet, no one has been convicted for any of these deaths.

Journalists are generally murdered for uttering the truth and their killers would be hypocritical in deed not to acknowledge that they are amongst the most demonic forces on earth. Only a few weeks ago, in Pakistan, it was the 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai, these truth-haters tried to eliminate. If there is such a thing as selling one's soul to the Devil, then they cannot be far from it.