The International Press Institute (IPI) condemns the murder of Somali television journalist Liban Abdullahi Farah—the sixth journalist to be killed in the east African country this year—and urges Somali authorities to take the prompt and necessary steps to bring the crime’s perpetrators to justice.

According to IPI sources, Farah was shot four to six times while on his way home from work in Galkacyo, a city in the Puntland autonomous region, on July 7.  He was immediately rushed to the hospital, but soon succumbed from injuries to the throat, chest and legs.  The attack is believed to have been carried out by two to three assailants, whose identity remains unknown.

“We offer our most sincere condolences to Mr. Farah’s family, friends, and colleagues,” said IPI Executive Director Alison Bethel McKenzie.  “For many years now, Somalia has been among the deadliest countries for journalists and we are still seeing an alarming lack of action on the part of Somali authorities. As long as the pervasive impunity in the country continues, Somali journalists will still be at risk of death just for doing their job.”

Farah’s extensive journalistic background included work for various media houses—such as Radio Daljir, Radio SBC, and Royal Television.  He was currently working for the privately-owned Kalsan TV at the time of his death.

While the lack of investigations in this and any other attacks against Somali journalists makes it difficult to clearly establish the motive behind the killings, it is thought that Farah’s work covering political campaigns and candidates may have raised the anger of political players. Puntland is expected to hold elections on July 17.

Mohamed Ibrahim, secretary general of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) told IPI:  “We condemn this heinous murder against our colleague and mourn his loss.  NUSOJ makes a call for an urgent and independent investigation into his murder and urges the authorities of Puntland to bring the killers to justice.”

He added: “This murder could seriously cripple media freedom.  It compromises fair reporting and causes journalists to fear reprisals for their work. Thus, it is of vital importance that members of the press be afforded the necessary protection to work freely.”

Earlier this year, IPI reported on the murder of Abdihared Osman Adan, a reporter for Radio Shabelle, who was shot three times in January.  Similarly, Mohamed Ibrahim Rageh—a journalist with Somali National Television and Radio Mogadishu—was shot dead while on his way back home in April.  Rageh had just returned to Somalia, which he had left because of threats in 2009.   

IPI’s Death Watch places Somalia as the deadliest country in Africa for journalists, with 6 killings thus far in 2013 and 16 in 2012.