MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – A suicide bomber killed the director of state-controlled Radio Mogadishu Abdiasis Mohamud Guled in Somalia’s capital on Saturday, in an attack claimed by the militant group Al-Shabaab.
Popularly known as Abdiasis Africa, the well-known journalist worked for state-run Radio Mogadishu and was a critic of the Islamist group that wants to overthrow the western-backed government in Somalia.
The journalist was targeted as he was leaving a restaurant in a heavily fortified area of the city on Saturday. Two other people, including a director at the state television injured in the assault.
“My cousin Abdiasis was killed by a suicide bomber immediately after he went out to a restaurant… he died as he was rushed to hospital,” his cousin Abdullahi Nur told Reuters.
Al-Shabaab said it had carried out the attack that led to the death of Abdiasis Afrika.
“The Mujahideen had been hunting Abdiasis for a long time. He committed crimes against Islam, he was involved in the killing of mujahideens,” Abdiasis Abu Musab, Al-Shabaab’s military spokesperson, told Reuters news agency.
Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble offered his condolences to Guled’s family, in a statement issued shortly after the suicide bombing.
“Abdiasis was a hardworking journalist and national hero who worked for his country, his people and his religion with courage and relentlessness,” he said.
The prominent journalist was well known for his interview with detained Al-Shabaab suspects and other programs that were critic of Al-Shabaab.
Contact us: info@somaliguardian.com
