Two unknown assailants shot to death a renowned Somali comedian and a media worker, Abdi Malaq Jeylani better known as Marshale, in front of his home in Waberi district in Mogadishu at late Tuesday afternoon on July 31, 2012 around 5:30pm local time.

The attackers fled the scene immediately. No group has claimed the responsibility of the attack.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns this heinous attack in the strongest terms possible. The Union's sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to the families and Friends of Late Jeylani who was assassinated near his home in Waberi district.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of late Jeylani affected this terrible tragedy." Mohamed Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General said, “We must stand together in challenging the reckless impunity in a widespread and call for the government to investigate these horrible crimes against the journalists and the media workers"

“We call upon the Somali government to protect the journalists at this critical stage in which the country is in transition as the criminals are killing a journalist each month and walk freely without facing justice.” Mr. Ibrahim added.

Late Jeylani, 43, has worked several radio and Television stations and took part dramas that were critical to the Shabab. He has previously reported to the union that he has received several threatening phone calls from the Shabab ordering him to abandon the media.

He survived two wives and six (6) children. One of the wives is pregnant. He is the seventh to be killed in 2012 and several other journalists survived from assassination attempts.

On July 8, 2012, A Somali Journalist, Abdulkadir Omar Abdulle survived from an assassination attempt near his home at Madina District in Mogadishu when two unidentified gunmen approached him and shot him four times, he is recovering at the Nairobi Hospital and he is now in good health. Similarly, Two armed men shot and seriously wounded Mohamed Shariif of Bar-Kulan Radio, a UN Funded radio, at hamarjajab district minutes after he left the office Horn Cable television and was heading home on June 8, 2012.