Somali journalist awarded International Press Freedom Award

13 Oct 2009

MOGADISHU: Mustafa Haji Abdinur, an Agence France Press (AFP) correspondent in Mogadishu and editor-in-chief of independent radio station Radio Simba, has won the International Press Freedom Award, administered by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has expressed its excitement at the news that one of its members has won the award.

“This is a high moment for us at NUSOJ and we are busting with excitement. But this is also a lesson to all of us that despite the difficult and dangerous situation our members work, with dedication we can still do a good job as journalists and change the world. We are proud of him,” said Omar Faruk Osman, the secretary-general of NUSOJ, which had nominated Abdinur for the award.

Abdinur is one of the very few remaining courageous journalists still working in the war-racked Mogadishu.

“I am tremendously being engulfed by happiness. I never thought that I deserved such a prestigious prize like the International Press Freedom Award but I took chances. I convey my gratitude to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) for recognising me as a courageous journalist. I also thank the Agence France Presse (AFP) for putting me in the frontline of so that I could perfectly cover the conflict in Somali. I also thank the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) for having nominated me to be picked as the first Somali journalist to receive a prestigious CPJ press freedom award,” Abdinur said.