“Silenced Harvest: The Killing of Amun Abdullahi Mohamed”

November 08, 2024 – Somalia/Sweden – 

In a brutal reminder that journalism can be a death sentence, Somali‑Swedish investigative reporter Amun Abdullahi Mohamed was assassinated on October 19, 2024, in her hometown of Afgoye in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia. Shot dead by gunmen suspected to be linked to al‑Shabaab, Mohamed’s killing shocked international media communities and prompted urgent demands for justice.

Amun was not just any journalist—she was a trailblazer, celebrated for exposing al‑Shabaab’s recruitment operations both in Somalia and Sweden. She earned the 2010 Swedish Publicists’ Association Freedom of Speech Award and was a nominee for Sweden’s Guldspaden prize. After returning to Somalia, she worked on community farming initiatives while continuing her daring journalism, choosing to face threats rather than flee.

Her murder was Somalia’s second killing of a journalist in 2024, following Abdikarin Ahmed Bulhan’s death in March. This pattern underscores a deadly impunity: few investigations result in prosecution, emboldening attackers.

The International Press Institute (IPI) immediately called for a comprehensive, independent inquiry into Amun’s death, stressed that failing to do so heightens risks for all Somali journalists, and called it a direct threat to journalistic freedom. Women’s Press Freedom also voiced outrage, highlighting how elite journalists become targets when they shine a light on extremist networks.

Working in one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, Amun’s determination was a testament to courage. Despite survival risks, she split her time between journalism and farming, rooted in her community. Her killing speaks to the lethal hazards press workers face when confronting armed groups like al‑Shabaab.

Amun’s death is not just an individual tragedy—it speaks volumes about Somalia’s poisoned environment for the media. When a journalist of her stature is murdered with apparent impunity, it sends a chilling message: reporting the truth can be outlawed. The international community, local authorities, and Somali civil society must ensure that perpetrators are held accountable, no matter how powerful or extreme. Otherwise, Somalia’s press will be forced into silence, and the stories it needs to tell will die with them.

Reference – 

Somalia: IPI demands a thorough investigation into the killing of journalist Amun Abdullahi Mohamed