AU Special Representative Appalled by Attempted Assassination of Journalist

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, October 23, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif is appalled by the attempted assassination of a journalist working for the London based, Somali channel Universal TV.

Mohamed Mohamud Timacade was shot several times in the neck, chest and shoulder.

“It is sad to note that this barbaric behavior continues to exist despite the relative peace the residents of Mogadishu are enjoying,” he said

The AU Special Representative said the country is making tremendous progress and members of the media should be given assurance that their work environment is safe to operate in to ensure the Somali people are well informed of the developments around them.

Ambasador Annadif reaffirmed AMISOM commitment to enhancing the security of the country adding that AMISOM is ready to offer any assistance it can to help the Federal Government of Somalia and the Somali National Security Forces put a stop to these heinous attacks.

He paid tribute to the courage of Somali journalists noting that this is the sixth journalist to be killed this year. Eighteen journalists were killed in Somalia last year.