We had the pleasure of speaking to IPS reporter, Muyhadin Ahmed Roble, who has been nominated for The Thomas Foundation Young Journalist Award for his story on Al-Shabaab defectors. Born in Somalia, Muhyadin Ahmed Roble says he wanted to tell the stories of the ordinary people of his country, “the media tends to focus on the war and Al-Shabab, and I wanted to tell a different story of Somalia” he told IPS. His story on Al-Shabaab deserters might have earned him a nomination for the Thomas Foundation Young Journalist Award but it also cause quite a stir back in his home country. “A lot of people were unhappy with the story because this was an issue that everyone wants to keep secret” He says. Roble’s tenacity was not in vain as he says the story made a lot of impact on the ground, it got people talking and put pressure on the Somali government. Roble began his journalistic career at the young age of 18 in Mogadishu. He says becoming a journalist in a country where there are no systems in place to protect journalism has been a challenge, but he is fulfilling his childhood dream. “Due to the violence and the war I had experienced in my childhood, I was eager to find a way to contribute to the peace and reconciliation process in my country, and felt journalism is the best way to that” he says. As well as IPS, this young journalist works for think tank Jamestown foundation as an analyst, he is also a member of The Forum for African Investigative Reporters (FAIR). He is based in Nairobi but travels to Somalia regularly. His areas of journalistic interest include human rights abuses, security, corruption and good governance. IPS would like to congratulate Muyhadin Ahmed Roble for his nomination and wish him the best of luck for the awards ceremony on the 19th of November.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 07:59:00 +0000
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