December 14, 2024 13:32 (IST)
Somalia: UN condemns murder of second lawmaker
New York, Apr 23 (IBNS): Following the murder earlier on Tuesday of Somali parliamentarian Abdiaziz Isaaq Mursal - the second lawmaker to be killed in less than 48 hours in Mogadishu - the top United Nations official in the country strongly condemned the incident and pledged the world body's resolve in standing by the Somali people as they worked to build a stable, peaceful country.
A member of Somalia’s Federal Parliament, Mursal was shot dead by unknown gunmen, according to a statement issued by the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), which notes that the fresh violence in Mogadishu also included the killing Monday night of a media worker.
Mursal is the second parliamentarian to be murdered in the capital in less than 48 hours, following the death of Isaak Mohamed Rino, who was killed early on Monday when an improvised explosive device planted in his vehicle detonated. UNSOM says that the Al-Shabaab militant group has claimed responsibility for both attacks.
“I am appalled to learn of the death of [Mursal] and I condemn his murder in the strongest terms,” said the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Nicholas Kay, who added that he was also saddened by the shooting death of Radio Dalsan worker Muhammad Hassan Amar.
“The media must be allowed to carry out their work without fear of attack,” he said.
Kay went on to say: “I am concerned by the recent attacks we have seen in Mogadishu. We remain resolute in our support for the Somali people and their representatives as they work to realise their hopes and aspirations for a peaceful and stable future.”
“The people responsible for these heinous crimes have nothing to offer the Somali people but violence and insecurity. I call on the authorities to investigate these attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice as quickly as possible,” said Kay, who also heads UNSOM.
He offered his sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mursal and Amar, as well as to the Federal Parliament of Somalia and the country's media fraternity.
(Special Representative Nicholas Kay. Photo: Jean-Marc Ferré)
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
South Korea: Parliament votes to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over imposition of martial law
Sat, Dec 14 2024
UN experts call on Iran to repeal strict new hijab law
Fri, Dec 13 2024
French President Macron appoints centrist leader Francois Bayrou as new Prime Minister
Fri, Dec 13 2024
New UNESCO data shows 68 journalists were killed in 2024
Thu, Dec 12 2024
Syria rebels torch tomb of ousted president Bashar al-Assad's father
Thu, Dec 12 2024
US, Israel masterminded collapse of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, claims Iranian leader Khamenei
Wed, Dec 11 2024
South Korea's marital law crisis: Ex-Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun tries to commit suicide
Wed, Dec 11 2024
Middle East conflict: Israel carries out 480 strikes on military assets in Syria in past 48 hours since Assad's regime toppled
Tue, Dec 10 2024
Syrian rebels take control over Deir Ezzor
Tue, Dec 10 2024