Former Al-Shabaab media officer executed for murder of journalists

Former Al-Shabaab group media officer was executed by a firing squad on Monday for murdering journalists in the Horn of Africa nation.

Hassan Hanafi Haji, who used to arrange for media briefings by the insurgents in the capital, was shot in Mogadishu following his recent sentence by the country's military court.

"The Court found him guilty of killing five journalists. He also admitted his involvement in killing the journalists including former Chief of Somalia news agency Sheikh Nor Abkey. National military court sat for his case two times and found enough evidence and sentenced him to death penalty twice on March, but finally his execution happened this morning," said Col. Abdulahi Hussein Mayonge, one of the prosecutors.

Somalia journalists welcomed the execution of Haji, saying the deceased was a threat to journalism in the Horn of Africa nation.

"It is something very important to see and witness a criminal who was behind the killing of my colleagues facing justice. We used to hear perpetrators escaping from justice, but this gives us sign of hope and confidence," Omar Farah, a radio journalist, said.

Haji was arrested in Kenya and brought to Mogadishu for further investigation. He appeared from the State run television last month, admitting his involvement in the killing of journalists in Mogadishu.

The execution came two days after the court executed two other Al-Shabaab men who were found guilty of killing another journalist, Hindiya Haji Mohamed, in Mogadishu.

Hassan Nur Ali, 37, and Abdirisak Mohamed Barow, 28, were shot in Mogadishu on Saturday.

Mohamed, who was a journalist for two state-run news outlets, Radio Mogadishu and Somali National TV, was killed when a bomb planted under the seat of her car exploded. Enditem