By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A prominent television journalist in Somalia, Abdifatah Moalim Nur, has been feared dead in a suicide bombing at a restaurant in the country’s capital, Mogadishu.
Popularly known as Qeys, Nur has been described by colleagues as “exceptional” and “inspiring”.
According to a local media watchdog, Nur is the first journalist to be killed in Somalia this year.
Nur is a strong advocate of press freedom and had in the past faced threats, the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), said.
The al-Qaeda-linked militant group, al-Shabab, has since taken responsibility for the suicide attack at Blue Sky restaurant, which is near the presidential palace.
Police said four other people were injured outside the restaurant.
Information Minister Daud Aweis has denounced the attack as “cowardly”.
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) said it was “deeply shaken” by the “senseless and brutal” killing of Nur, the director of the privately owned Somali Cable Television.
“His remarkable career and unwavering dedication have left an indelible mark on Somali journalism, inspiring countless young journalists to strive for excellence,” the union said.
In October last year, journalist Mohamed Isse Hassan was among more than 100 people killed in twin car bombings in Mogadishu.
Al-Shabab has been carrying out deadly attacks in Somalia in response to a large-scale military offensive that seeks to drive out the jihadists.
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud took office in May last year promising an “all-out war” against the group.
