By Suleiman Sabdow

Somali journalist and Director of State owned Radio Mogadishu Abdiaziz Mohamud Guled popularly known as Abdiaziz “Afrika” has been killed in a suicide explosion near the country’s security Ministry building in Downtown Mogadishu.

The two journalists-Abdiaziz and his colleague Sharmake Warsame a senior reporter for Somali television (SNTV) were traveling in their car when a suicide bomber blew himself up leaving the two sustaining serious injuries.

Abdiaziz later succumbed to injuries he sustained from the suicide explosion that targeted theur vehicle.

Al-Shabaab has officially claimed responsibility for the attack that killed journalist Abdiaziz Afrika and wounded State Media reporter.

The militant group in a statement said that the killing was in retaliation for the Somali government execution of Hassan Hanafi, a former journalist-turned Al-Shabaab who was executed by the govt in 2016.

The loud explosion was heard across the capital Moqadishu and occurred a few moments before the call for Isha prayers.

The veteran journalist Abdiaziz Afrika was scheduled to travel to India tomorrow for specialized treatment.

Journalist Africa was a longtime state media journalist and was known for his programs on Shabab defectors. he previously escaped several Al Shabab assassination attacks.

The attack comes barely a day after eight people were killed and over 13 others wounded in a bomb blast in the town of Berdale in Somalia’s South West State.

According to UN Somalia is the worst and dangerous place for journalists to work as reporters and photographers face high risk of killings and injuries while in their line of duty and carrying out their journalism work.