No doubt the untimely death in Jigjiga this week of Somali media legend Ahmed Hassan Awke has left a great many Somali-speaking people with shock and grief. But it is the lack of information - any background information however brief - from the Ethiopian authorities at all levels on his death that is most troubling.

Ahmed, one of the most prominent media personalities in the Somali-speaking world has ever produced, rose to prominence in the seventies and eighties as newscaster and sports presenter. 

Many believe Ahmed reached the apex of his career during the Somalia-Ethiopia war in 1977-1978 during which he was the point man on Somalia’s media war with Ethiopia. His reportage on the war with Mengistu regime was striking. One would listen everyday Awke’s booming voice on Radio Mogadishu deriding Ethiopian troops’ humiliating defeat and their poor fighting spirit in the front. "They turned their heels, … they surrendered en masse…, …they left their shoes in the trenches…” These were just some of the catchy phrases of the captivating newscaster.

Recently in the London-based, Somali-owned Universal TV, Ahmed Hassan Awke served as anchorman for host of programs including Guest Speakers, chat shows, news programs, interviews, commentaries, and numerous other media assignments. With his telegenic charm on television and arresting presentation style, Mr. Awke earned countless enthusiastic fans in and outside Somalia. He was a man with immense gift for engaging everyone with respect and humility, his colleagues attest, and were unanimous in their agreement with his close friendship and camaraderie.

The mystery with which Journalist Ahmed Hassan Awke suddenly died in Jigjiga hotel and the lack of essential facts about his death left many Somali compatriots wondering if there was a hidden hand behind his sudden death. No doubt Ahmed earned many enemies in Mengistu regime during the Somalia-Ethiopia war as he was the mouthpiece of the Somali government and participated in the media war in no small measure.

Given that Awke had once been a fierce critic of Somalia’s archenemy Ethiopia and had earned the animus of many Ethiopians, is it surprising to suspect his old enemies got revenge on him?

Except brief condolences from the president of Somali regional government of Ethiopia Abdi Mohamed Iley who expressed deep sorry for his friend during his burial in Togwajale town, no background information or essential facts about the death of Ahmed Hassan Awke was given. This compounded the suspicion of many Somalis that Awke was eliminated by security elements of the Addis Ababa regime.  

Unless a full, complete, and transparent investigation with the participation of impartial outside party is done on the death of Ahmed Hassan Awke, suspicions that he was assassinated by Ethiopia will linger on. To dispel such strong suspicions, we urge the Ethiopian regime to come clean on Ahmed Hassan Awke’s mysterious death.

By A. Dhiif