Sunday evening saw the murder of another promising Somali journalist. 25 year-old Cali-Abdiwali was shot multiple times by a pair of assailants in Afgooye, 30 km South of Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital. His death came days after Amnesty International published a report highlighting the dangers facing Somali journalists. 

Mr Cali-Abdiwali’s murder has engendered grief. The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) wished his family “strength in this sad moment,” while fellow journalist Ali Abdirahman called it a “very sad story.” 

Journalist representatives have quickly channeled sadness into a call for action. Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, Secretary General of the SJS, urges that “this should not be another statistic;” he compels “the Government and the local authorities to carry out prompt investigations and bring the killers into the justice.” In a similar tune, Mohamed Moalimuu, Secretary General of the Federation of Somali Journalists, demands local authorities “to investigate this crime and bring its perpetrators to justice.” 

Mr Cali-Abdiwali’s death is, however, not a shock. He is the 69th journalist in the country to be murdered because of his profession since 1992. 

In that time, many other journalists have been incarcerated or threatened. Their “offences” range from publicising “unfavourable” articles, to supporting the opposition on social media, and to defying censorship orders from their editors. It is important to note that none of these are actual crimes. Treating them as such defies the freedom of expression theoretically guaranteed by the Declaration of Human Rights.

Amnesty International’s recent report explores these and other perils facing Somalian journalists. The report’s title itself, “We live in perpetual fear,” is a quote from an anonymous journalist summarising his situation. He is not the only one. At least 8 journalists have fled the country since 2017 due to concerns about their personal safety. 

Given the dire context into which Mr Cali-Abdiwali’s death falls, we support journalist representatives in demanding a thorough and high-priority investigation. We believe that he deserves justice. Additionally, we believe that properly dealing with this severest of crimes will help dissuade future attacks on journalists. 

This year, Somalia expects to host its first elections in a half-century. Thus, how its authorities respond to this crime is pivotal. If authorities can deliver justice for Mr Cali-Abdiwali, it will be a marker of democratic progress, and a promising foresight for democratic elections.