Somali reporter killed in terror attack, her goal was to show 'positive'

Somali-Canadian television personality Hodan Nalayeh was reported killed in the Al Shabaab complex attack in Kismayo which targeted reporters and activists for a civic society in Somalia.

JULY 13, 2019 01:16

A general view shows people at the scene of a suicide car explosion at a check point near Somali Parliament building in Mogadishu, Somalia June 15, 2019 (photo credit: FEISAL OMAR/REUTERS) — A general view shows people at the scene of a suicide car explosion at a check point near Somali Parliament building in Mogadishu, Somalia June 15, 2019

(photo credit: FEISAL OMAR/REUTERS)

Somali-Canadian television personality Hodan Nalayeh, who created the program Integration TV directed at the Somali diaspora, was reported as one of those killed in the Friday attack by Al Shabaab.

BREAKING: Inspirational TV personality who returned from Canada to report positive stories about Somalia, Hodan Nalayeh, killed in Al-Shabaab complex attack in Kismayo - Minister @JustAwHirsi confirms. Hodan was the founder of @IntegrationTV that reports on local and diaspora. pic.twitter.com/cjRQ2TPflg
— Harun Maruf (@HarunMaruf) July 12, 2019

The group claimed responsibility for a car bomb blast and gunfire assault in Kismayo that killed Nalayeh as well as SBC TV correspondent Mohamed Omar Sahal, Al-Jazeera reported.

It was an incredible day to witness #Somalia’s beauty on the island of #Ilisi #Kismayo #Somalia #MySomalia pic.twitter.com/KRr0AgGgtK
— Hodan Nalayeh (@HodanTV) July 11, 2019

Civic society figure Deq Isse Abdulle was also killed as well as Nalayeh’s husband.

Her reporting was focused on positive and inspiring stories from Somalia and Africa, such as her April 2018 interview with Mahad and Mohamed Nur which she said inspired her to return to Africa.