A prominent journalist from Somalia, Hodan Naleyah is reportedly among the 26 people killed in Friday’s deadly attack on a hotel in Somalia’s port city of Kismayo.
Those killed in the attack include Kenyans, Americans, a Briton and Tanzanians, Jubbaland region’s president said on Saturday.
Hotel Asasey which was attacked is in the heart of the Kismayo town. Al-Shabaab, the militant group operating in parts of east Africa has claimed responsibility.
Dozens others also sustained injuries in Friday’s attack, according to security forces.
According to security officials a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle loaded with explosives into the hotel.
Shortly after a number of heavily armed gunmen stormed the hotel shooting indiscriminately.
“The blast rocked the popular Medina hotel formerly known as Cascasey which is located in downtown Kismayo,” said Mohamed.
He adds that “Several gunmen entered and started shooting but the security forces responded quickly and engaged in a gunfight with the terrorists inside the building.”
Tribute for Victims
Tributes have been pouring in for the victims especially Journalist, Hodan Naleyah who was 43 years old.
She died in the attack together with her husband, Farid, according to local reports.
She founded the media platform Integration TV helping to tell stories about life in Somalia and in the Somali diaspora.
Her recent works projected the many of Somalia’s female entrepreneurs and things to do in the city of Las Anod.
Hodan Naleyah is also popular among the Somali diaspora in Canada. She moved there with her family when she was six years old.
She returned home recently returned to expand her work in a country she loved very much.
Hodan Nalayeh – spoke to @dwnews on why she decided to return home. I loved her courage and I liked her passion and love for Somalia. She was a true patriot. You’ll be missed. Rest well. #Somalia https://t.co/dco8upIjt2
— Fred Muvunyi (@MuvunyiF) July 12, 2019
I’m saddened by the death of my dear friend the Somali Canadian journalist, Hodan Nalayeh, who was among those killed in today’s attack in #Kismaayo. She was a bright star & a beautiful soul that represented the best of her people & homeland #Somalia at all times. RIP sister. pic.twitter.com/DGkEcTPED4
— Farhan Jimale (@farhanjimale) July 12, 2019
Indeed she did represent the best of all people We did three small projects here in Canada in 2017 and 2018 I’d so hope to get her back for one more BIG one in 2020 :/
— Michael H Ballard (@ResilientMichae) July 13, 2019
I met Hodan in Kenya in 2011 when I was researching a book. She took me to dinner in Los Angeles wks later; my hotel was 2 blocks from where she lived! We reunited in Minnesota in 2017; she filmed it for her show. She was kind, graceful, and inspiring. ? #Kismaayo #HodanNalayeh
— Lisa M. Bolt Simons (@LisaMBoltSimons) July 13, 2019
This is a loss for ALL of us. Is there no end to this human cruelty of terrorism?
— cb (@seawiz2) July 13, 2019
Unending violence
Somalia continues to witness any deadly attacks resulting in the death of thousands.
Such militant attacks from al-Shabab often take place in the capital Mogadishu.
The presence of the African Union peacekeepers and US-trained Somali troops have done very little to stop the attacks.
Al-Shabab is affiliated with al-Qaeda and still dominates in parts of rural Somalia.
Source: Africafeeds.com
