Captured by Somali pirates - A journalist's first hand story
I got an email today from Kassim Mohamed a Collective Journalism contributor who produced a story for us about Kenya called Paintbrush, Not Bullets.
Kassim pointed me to this amazing story he penned for the blog of the Committee to Protect Journalists: A journalist in the hands of Somali pirates. He details his journey following the trail of Somali pirate money from Nairobi's slums to the beaches of Somalia's Puntland. Here's an excerpt:
I'm exceptionally happy to see Kassim is safe and sound. I'm also glad to see his story is making the rounds - Neal Ungerleider picked it up on True/Slant as well.
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Kassim pointed me to this amazing story he penned for the blog of the Committee to Protect Journalists: A journalist in the hands of Somali pirates. He details his journey following the trail of Somali pirate money from Nairobi's slums to the beaches of Somalia's Puntland. Here's an excerpt:
Along the route, a confrontation ensues between the pirates onboard while deep in the Gulf of Aden. A section is opposed to the idea of a journalist recording and visiting the highly guarded territory. Two of them turn, pointing their AK-47 rifles at me. At this point I am speechless that the men who only a few minutes ago were friends are baying for my blood.
After more than four hours roaming the Gulf of Aden, we finally come ashore. They lead me to a dark room and hold me hostage for eight hours, often threatening me: “You’re going to die in the next four hours if we don’t get a kill today,” one of them says.
My Sony H4 Zoom recorder is my only companion as I keep the record button on, making sure that I leave evidence even if they end my life. At this point, I reflect on my initial questions that led me to this mission: Who is behind this trade and does it have links to the development that is on going back in Eastleigh? My nose for news is slowly being replaced by a desire to survive the ordeal. I keep praying for a quick intervention. I see July 31 as my last day on Earth.
Eventually, they release me, but not before a parting shot: Western forces must respect Somalia. “You must tell the international community that we are here to stay despite what the U.S., Russia, and France do,” the ringleader, Guled, said. “They should respect our waters and avoid dumping waste here.”
I'm exceptionally happy to see Kassim is safe and sound. I'm also glad to see his story is making the rounds - Neal Ungerleider picked it up on True/Slant as well.
Recently from the Current News Blog:
- Rio's drug violence: How Brazil's 2016 Olympics presage troubles for megacities
- Taliban trying to addict US soldiers to heroin?
- Celebrity Oxy Watch: Big Brother Winner Adam Jasinski
- Oxy beats out crack in San Francisco's Tenderloin
- Witch children of Nigeria
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- Collective Journalism, Journalism, Pirates, Somalia, 10 more
