Khalif, a contributor to the private radio station Voice of Peace in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, was killed by crossfire while covering an army raid on an illegal gun market.
Khalif died from a bullet to the chest as soldiers were raiding the dealership to recover an assault rifle allegedly stolen from the army, according to the National Union of Somali Journalists and local journalists. One other person died and several others were wounded in the raid.
Khalif, believed to be about 25, had contributed news reports to the station on a voluntary basis since 2006, Director Mohamed Ali Ahmad told CPJ. He had worked as a station technician for several months before that, Ahmad said.