The killing of Mr. Said Tahlil Ahmed, who was the director of the Horn of Africa radio station, is a big loss not only to Somalis but to all who aspire for a free and vibrant media in the Horn of Africa. In a region and continent where non-government controlled media are rare and few in number, the perpetuators should be condemned unequivocally.
This radio station is largely heard not only in Somalia proper but also in the Somali part of Ethiopia, in Djibouti, and in Kenya and beyond.
Mr. Said Tahlil Ahmed was one of the well-known journalists heading this radio station serving all those thirsty for information and to those who were fed up with the ‘doctored’ government controlled media channels rampant in this region and beyond in Africa. Consequently 'Horn Afrik' radio station became popular and a source of information.
The killers of Mr. Ahmed, those who actually shot him and those who planned and organized his elimination, should know their act of silencing journalists can not halt the quest for a free and alternative press and media in the Horn. It is for this reason that we should speak out against such a despicable act and give support to and defend independent media in this region as well as in Africa as a whole.
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somalia is one of the outnumbered examples of what African Journalists endure in the course of their profession. At some point, we were all under the wrong impression that only dictatorial regime oppress or coerce journalists. For those who believed in "Democratic" leaders such as President Abdoulaye Wade,Gbagbo, Sassou Nguessou ( New term after President Lissouba) and Kagame will point out disappointment in these gentlemen. It wouldn't be an independent media in Africa as long as those running for public front office regard it as a source of wealth. I truly believe that African Leaders squandered the Financial Aid allocated to sustainable development by the West with their helping hands, isn't the West the safe heaven of their investments? (Luxurious Properties, Fat Bank Accounts).The Civil Society has always been represented during every World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings, but hasn't yet occured to those in the charge of the Bretton Woods Institutions that African Governmemts are the main part of the problem, hence empowering the Civil Society could be a tentative solution? I must say that in most African Countries, president personifies the state, in other words, he is the national bank, national TV and Radio stations, the entire judiciary system and so on.Personification of the state and Independent Media isn't associable.In the case point of Zimbabwe where the unemployment rate is up to 92%, any Journalist or Civil Servant must be out of his right mind to do a paper or question the president's mismanagement of the natural patrimoin or insolent bank account.
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