All the radio stations wanted him, and for good reason--Abdi
Jeylani Malaq was one of the most famous comedians in Mogadishu, and it was
the holy month of Ramadan when the radio broadcasters hold quiz shows. Abdi had
been in the business since 1989 and was in hot demand as a commentator for the
competitions. He had just finished one such quiz show Tuesday evening at Radio
Kulmiye, in the capital's central region, and had left the station for home when two
gunmen shot him
five times in the chest and head, local journalists told me. He was pronounced
dead from blood loss at Medani Hospital and was buried Thursday. "He was a great
friend for me and for all Somali journalists," recounted Abdalla Ahmed, a
reporter for the private Mogadishu station Radio Risaale.