ASOJ.ORG - Associated Somali Journalists (ASOJ) is deeply concerned about the escalating violence against Somali journalists in the Gedo region, particularly in Beled Hawo district on the Somali-Kenyan border where a journalist was injured by security forces and another was arbitrarily imprisoned by the local authority.

Intelligence forces in Beled Hawa arrested Mohamed Kaafi Aden, a journalist in Gedo region on Sunday, March 28, 2020, who was among several journalists who publicly condemned in recorded video the attack against a journalist Abdirizak Sheikh Ismail (Afrika) a radio journalist who was badly wounded by the forces on March 24, 2020.

Journalist Abdirizak Afrika was flown to Mogadishu for further medical assistance as his condition could not be assisted in Beled Hawa and he is currently being treated at Erdogan Hospital in Mogadishu.

ASOJ considers unacceptable acts of violence against journalists by Beled Hawa security forces, and this is clearly showing how the attacks and violence against journalists.

"We call on the authorities in Beled Hawa to immediately arrest the soldier who injured Abdirizak Afrika and bring him to justice and also we call on the unconditional release of the detained journalist” Ali Adan Hashi ASOJ President said.

"ASOJ is closely monitoring the situation of the wounded journalist Abdirazak Afrika for accessing medical care, and we hope that speedy recovery will always follow the instructions of the treating doctors” Dahir Alasow ASOJ  Secretary General said.