Awale, 60, director of the community station Hurma Radio,
was on the roof of the station helping a technician fix a transmitter when he
was struck in the abdomen by a stray bullet from nearby fighting, local
journalists told CPJ. His colleagues took him to
where he was pronounced dead.
Awale’s death came during intense fighting between
Al-Shabaab insurgents and African Union troops, local journalists told CPJ.
Earlier that day, at least 33 people were killed when two suicide bombers
detonated explosives at the Muna Hotel, near the presidential palace, according
to a statement from Information Minister Abdirahman Omar.
Awale had worked in news media for 30 years and was director
of Hurma Radio for the past four years, the National Union of Somali
Journalists reported. Hurma Radio primarily covered social issues, local
journalists told CPJ. The station, based in a government-controlled area, had
been off the air recently due to technical problems.
Born in Borama, northern
wife and three children.