The International Federation of Journalists joins the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) in condemning yesterday’s kidnapping of French journalist Gwen Le Gouil on Sunday  by unknown gunmen in the port town of Bossasso, the capital of the Bari region in the north-eastern part of Somalia. (17-DEC-07)

Based on IFJ’s and NUSOJ´s press releases, this article has been prepared for republication here by HRH F / Niels Jacob Harbitz. Photo of Osman: HRH F / Harbitz.

According to journalists and news reports, Gwen Le Gouil, a cameraman who arrived from Mogadishu to Bossasso on Saturday, 15 December, was kidnapped by five armed men who ordered his driver and translator to go away. He is reportedly being held in a place called Marero, 7 km east of Bossasso. This evening, Puntland authorities failed to release him after the kidnapers opened fire to Puntland officials who went there to negotiate with the kidnappers, according to officials. The reason behind the kidnapping of Le Gouil, who wanted to cover human trafficking to Saudi Arabia via Yemen from Bossasso, is not officially known, although the kidnappers reportedly demand a ransom of at least 70,000 USD.

Omar Faruk Osman NUSOJ 100.jpgThe media outlet that Gwen Le Gouil is working with is not formally known, but unconfirmed reports are stating that he is freelancing with ARTE Television, a French & German Television based in Strasbourg with an office in Paris. “We denounce the kidnapping of Gwen Le Gouil, and we demand his immediate and unconditional release” said Omar Faruk Osman, right, NUSOJ´s Secretary General. “We appeal to Puntland authorities to peacefully release the French cameraman without any use of force that can risk his life.

This information is disseminated by the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ). NUSOJ takes the responsibility of the information expressed inside this mail, and any organization, union or group is allowed to recopy or republish this information. For press freedom observations, email: somaliapressfreedom@googlemail.com, for all other correspondences, email: faruk129@yahoo.com

IFJ Calls for Immediate Release of French Journalist Kidnapped in Somalia
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called for the immediate release of a French journalist kidnapped on Sunday morning by unknown men in Puntland in northern Somalia.

“This abduction underscores the threats facing journalists in Somalia, which have reached an intolerable level,” said Gabriel Baglo, Director of IFJ Africa office. “We are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of our colleague and urge authorities to ensure his release without any violence or bloodshed.”

The kidnapped journalist, Gwenlaoen Le Gouil, is a journalist and cameraman working with a small production company. His colleague Jean Laurent told AFP that Le Gouil was working on a report for ARTE, a French and German Television station. He traveled to Somalia to cover the trafficking of illegal immigrants who flee to Yemen and have reportedly been ill-treated and sometimes killed by their smugglers.

The suspected kidnappers are said to have demanded for a ransom of 70,000 dollars.

According to the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), Le Gouil arrived in the capital of Puntland, Bossasso, on Saturday, from Mogadishu and was kidnapped the following day by five armed men who ordered his driver and translator to leave the journalist with them.

The last attack on a foreign journalist in Somalia was in June 2006 when Swedish cameraman Martin Adler was shot dead during a demonstration organised by the Islamic Courts Union in Mogadishu, the Somali capital.

So far this year, eight local journalists and other media workers have been killed in Somalia.

For more information contact the IFJ at + 221 33 842 01 43
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries worldwide