MOGADISHU, Somalia – 18 March 2025 – The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) condemns the Al-Shabaab bomb explosion attack that killed a young independent journalist in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Tuesday.
Mohamed Abukar Mohamed (known as Dabaashe), 31 years old, was killed when a massive Improvised Explosive Device explosion hit his residence at the Ceel Gaabta area in Mogadishu. The bomb attack, claimed by Al-Shabaab, had targeted Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s convoy.
The president survived; however, several people were killed and others injured, according to media reports.
Dabaashe’s body was found under the rubble of the collapsed building several hours after the explosion, his family and colleagues told SJS.
As a young trainee, Dabaashe joined Radio Risaala in late 2011 and later became a full-time reporter for the station. Since 2019, he had been working as an online reporter, mainly on independent Facebook and YouTube channels.
Dabaashe becomes the first journalist killed in Somalia in 2025. He joins a long list of journalists and media professionals killed in the country since 1992, many of whose cases remain unresolved.
SJS extends the deepest condolences to the family of Mohamed Abukar Dabaashe, his colleagues, and the entire Somali journalist community. His dedication to reporting the truth will not be forgotten, and we stand in solidarity with all journalists who continue to work under extremely difficult and dangerous conditions
“We strongly condemn this heinous attack that claimed the life of journalist Mohamed Abukar Mohamed (Dabaashe). His killing is a tragic reminder of the deadly risks Somali journalists face simply for doing their job,” said SJS Secretary General, Abdalle Mumin.
“I had the privilege of training Dabaashe when he was a junior reporter, and his dedication to journalism was evident from the start. Ensuring the safety of journalists is crucial for press freedom and the public’s right to information. We call for an urgent and independent investigation to hold those responsible accountable and to take concrete measures to protect journalists from violence and intimidation,” adds Mr. Mumin.