Ahmed Abdisalam Adan

Ahmed Abdisalam Adan, also known as Ahmed Mohamed Aden, is a Somali radio journalist, media founder and politician. He is a co-founder of HornAfrik Media Inc based in Mogadishu. In the 2000s, he also served as a Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security in the former Transitional Federal Government.[1]

Ahmed Abdisalam Adan
Born
Somalia
NationalitySomali
Other namesAhmed Mohamed Aden
Occupation(s)Journalist, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Public Security
Organization(s)HornAfrik Media, Inc., Transitional Federal Government of Somalia
Known forco-founding HornAfrik Media Inc.

Personal life

Adan was born around 1959 in Somalia. He relocated with his family to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada during the 1980s, just prior to the start of the civil war in his country of birth. Adan thereafter worked in social services for Ottawa–Carleton.[2] He decided to return to Somalia along with Mohamed Elmi and Ali Iman Sharmarke to found the HornAfrik media company in 1999.[3]

HornAfrik

On December 12, 1999, Ahmed Abdisalam Adan, Mohamed Elmi, and Ali Iman Sharmarke officially opened HornAfrik Media Inc. in Mogadishu, Somalia.[1] Adan was managing partner and director of programs for HornAfrik through 2007.[4]

An independent broadcast company, HornAfrik produced and maintained a website, two radio stations, and television station. HornAfrik provided news and aired talk shows for Somalis as an alternative to propaganda delivered by media outlets owned by local faction leaders. HornAfrik broadcast content such as BBC and CNN programs, as well as call-in shows that enabled people to express their views on topics of peace, religion, culture, health, women's issues, education, and economy. The broadcasters also aired interviews with faction leaders.[3][4]

Adan and his partners' work to support free speech and air important local issues earned the ire of Islamist extremists and faction leaders, who sought to maintain control of the capital. As a result, HornAfrik and its employees and operators endured violent attacks and attempts to hush their broadcasts.[4][5] Adan vowed to continue despite the threats and violence.[6]

Government service

Adan served as the minister for information for the Transitional Federal Government in 2008.[7] After serving as the TFG's minister for information, he acted as a deputy prime minister between 2008 and 2009.[8] According to the WikiLeaks cache of cables, the U.S. approved of Adan's presence as a deputy prime minister.[9][10]

Adan continued to be active in Somalian politics and the peace process after serving his posts.[11]

In May 2012, Adan was injured in a suicide bombing attack while on a peace mission in Dhusamareb. Two officials in his delegation died and five other people were killed. Adan sustained some injuries, but later recovered.[2][12][13]

Awards

Adan and the other founders of HornAfrik Media Inc. earned praise for their work and the support of the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE). In 2002, they along with a Kazakh journalist were presented the CJFE International Press Freedom Award.[5]

References
  1. "somalia:Somalia's Radio HornAfrik celebrates ninth anniversary". Mareeg.com. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
  2. "Former Ottawa resident injured in Somalia bombing - Ottawa - CBC News". Cbc.ca. 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
  3. Atherton, Tim (2007-08-23). "The ordinary heroes of HornAfrik Radio". Retrieved 2012-10-18.
  4. "In Somalia, shelling destroys broadcast stations, injures journalists - Committee to Protect Journalists". Cpj.org. 2007-04-23. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
  5. "Somali Broadcasters Win Cjfe International Press Freedom Awards". IFEX. 2002-10-08. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
  6. Michael Petrou (2007-08-27). "Telling the truth in Mogadishu | Macleans.ca - Canada - Features". Macleans.ca. Archived from the original on 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
  7. Mohamed, Abdi-noor (2008-01-17). "Welcome Mr. Minister". Hiiraan. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
  8. "Somalia: A state of terror". Hiiraan.com. 2009-07-17. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
  9. "New Wikileaks cable on Somalia | Alshahid Network". English.alshahid.net. 2011-03-24. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
  10. "Cable reference id: #08NAIROBI2380". Cablegatesearch.net. Archived from the original on 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
  11. Ahmed Abdisalam Adan. "Fixing the Transitional Process for Somalia (2000-2011)". Hillaac.net. Archived from the original on 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
  12. Shephard, Michelle (20 September 2012). "Somali-Canadian politician and journalist escapes death in suicide bombing". Toronto Star. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  13. "Garowe Online". Garowe Online. 2012-05-02. Archived from the original on 2012-05-07. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
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