The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has expressed its excitement at the news that one of its members has won the award.
“This is a high moment for us at NUSOJ and we are busting with excitement. But this is also a lesson to all of us that despite the difficult and dangerous situation our members work, with dedication we can still do a good job as journalists and change the world. We are proud of him,” said Omar Faruk Osman, the secretary-general of NUSOJ, which had nominated Abdinur for the award.
Abdinur is one of the very few remaining courageous journalists still working in the war-racked Mogadishu.
“I am tremendously being engulfed by happiness. I never thought that I deserved such a prestigious prize like the International Press Freedom Award but I took chances. I convey my gratitude to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) for recognising me as a courageous journalist. I also thank the Agence France Presse (AFP) for putting me in the frontline of so that I could perfectly cover the conflict in Somali. I also thank the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) for having nominated me to be picked as the first Somali journalist to receive a prestigious CPJ press freedom award,” Abdinur said.
