I condemn the killing of Bashir Mohamed Abdullahi. Journalists play a crucial role in informing the world and ensuring the local population’s right to <a href="https://absafricatv.com/africas-climate-services-need-local-detail-and-knowledge-say-people-who-use-the-information/” title=”Africa’s climate services need local detail and knowledge, say people who use the information”>information. I call for the respect of UN Security Council Resolution 2222 unanimously adopted in 2015 on the protection of journalists, media professionals and associated personnel as civilians in situations of conflict,. I urge authorities to investigate this attack and to protect journalists who receive threats in connection to their work.
Khaled El-EnanyUNESCO Director-General
Bashir Mohamed Abdullahi, aged 23, worked as a journalist forAlraadi Media Network,covering local and sports news.
On 3 September, he was shot by assailants on his way to work. He was taken to Bay General Hospital in Baidoa city for treatment and died four days later.
He is the second journalist killed in Somalia this year, according to the UNESCO Observatory of Killed Journalists.
UNESCO promotes the safety of journaliststhrough global awareness-raising, capacity building and by coordinating the implementation of the UN Plan of Actionon the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
With 194 Member States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization contributes to peace and bringing people together by leading multilateral cooperation on education, science, culture, communication and information. Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO has offices in 53 countries and employs over 2500 people. UNESCO oversees more than 2260 World Heritage sites, Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks; networks of over 1500 Creative, Learning, Inclusive and Sustainable Cities; and more than 13 000 associated schools, university chairs, training and research institutions, with a global network of 201 National Commissions. Its Director-General is Khaled El-Enany.
“Since wars begin in the minds of people, it is in the minds of people that the defences of peace must be constructed” – UNESCO Constitution, 1945.
More information: www.unesco.org
Press contact
Clare
O’Hagan
Senior Press Officer (Artificial Intelligence, Emerging Technologies, Freedom of Expression, Journalist Safety)
mailc.o-hagan@unesco.org
