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United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Director-General Irina Bokova has called for the identification and prosecution of those responsible for the murder of Somali journalist Farhan Jeemis Abdulle.

Abdulle, a former Radio Daljir reporter, was killed by masked men in Galkayo in central Somalia on May 2nd. He is the fifth journalist to be killed in Somalia this year.

"Farhan James Abdulle was a fervent defender of press freedom, and fought for improved security for journalists," Bokova said in a press release Monday (May 7th).

"The construction of a robust democracy is a complex task, especially in those countries emerging from conflict. Press freedom plays a vital role in this, and journalists must be able to work without fearing for their lives if they are to fulfil their responsibilities," she said, adding that every effort must be made to bring the killers to justice.

Press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders has described Somalia as the deadliest African nation for journalists. Abdulle's killing came on the eve of World Press Freedom Day.