GALKAYO, Somalia (Kaab TV) – As the world commemorated the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists under the theme of Journalist Safety in Crises and Emergencies, a gathering in the central Somali town of Galkayo brought together journalists, family members of slain colleagues, local officials, and community members.
Organized by the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), the event centered on a film screening dedicated to honoring the memory of journalists who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Galkayo, the chosen venue, stands as the second deadliest city for Somali journalists, following Mogadishu. Known for its divided administration—where Puntland controls the north and Galmudug governs the south—Galkayo has been a site of conflict between rival clans.
“The film reminds us of the risks we still face. As journalists, we need to stand together,” said Hassan Abdirahman, a Galmudug-based journalist and media training director for the region’s Ministry of Information.
In the documentary, journalists shared their struggles with trauma and the lingering fear that has led some to consider leaving the profession. Many have lost hope of seeing justice, as cases dating back a decade remain unsolved.
Somalia remains one of the most dangerous places for journalists. Over 85 journalists—both local and international—have been murdered since 1992, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, with most cases unresolved, leaving families in enduring grief. Mogadishu leads with 85% of these killings, followed by Galkayo.
Since 2019 alone, 12 journalists (two women and ten men) have lost their lives in Somalia while reporting, the SJS reported.
Mohamed Sheikh Said, leader of the Galkayo Peace Integration Initiative, an organization fostering unity among rival clans with support from journalists and activists, spoke at the event, emphasizing that the community must remember these fallen journalists.
“Many of those killed were advocates for peace and truth,” he noted. “On behalf of my organization, I pledge to support the education of children of journalists killed in the line of duty.”
Participants at the event also called on the government to establish a fund for families of slain journalists.
Former journalist Elmi Kulan highlighted the critical role of community support. “The community is the mother of all of us. We cannot survive without its support, so I urge everyone to stand with our media colleagues,” he said.
Women’s representative Habibo Kofurow underscored that ending impunity is vital for ensuring safety for all.
“Despite some stability in Galkayo, families still suffer without justice for their lost loved ones. Justice and peace are intertwined; one cannot exist without the other,” she said, urging the government to investigate journalists’ deaths fully.
Mohamed Bulbul, SJS’s Secretary of Human Rights and Information, stressed that ending impunity for crimes against journalists is crucial to ensuring their safety and improving Somalia’s global reputation.
“Today, SJS stands in solidarity with the local media community, honoring fallen journalists and reinforcing the call to end impunity,” he said.
He said SJS also released a documentary film to highlight Galkayo’s ongoing pain as journalists and families continue to grapple with these losses.
“We want to bring back the memory of fallen colleagues and renew the demand for justice, accountability, and an end to impunity,” Bulbul added.
The event concluded with a prayer for all murdered journalists in Somalia.