Horn Of Africa Most Dangerous

21 journalists have been killed in direct
connection to their work since 2005.

NAIROBI (Xinhua) -- The Horn of Africa region is the most dangerous place for journalists working in Africa with lawless Somalia doubling as the most dangerous workplace for members of the press in the world.

A global press freedom watchdog, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said Ethiopia and Eritrea occupy the dubious distinction of second and third respectively.

Programme Coordinator of CPJ Tom Rhodes said Tuesday in Nairobi during the launch of a worldwide survey for 2009 that 21 journalists have been killed in direct connection to their work since 2005.

Over 80 journalists have gone into exile since 2006.

"High numbers of Somali journalists have fled their country in recent times.

"The high exile rates have brought lack of information so much as misinformation, which incites the conflict further," said Rhodes.

"The domestic audience that relied upon these front-line journalists has also paid dearly for the exodus of the professional local reporters who used local coverage as base of information."

The coordinator said the hardest hit has been Radio Shabelle, a station situated in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu’s Bakara Market and which had earned a reputation for independent reporting.

"The station has seen five of its journalists killed, numerous staffers threatened and numerous forced into exile," he said.