A High Profile Somali Christian Passes Away in Mogadishu

A prominent Somali Christian passed away in Mogadishu on 19 April 2019. Abdullahi Mohamed Sheegow, 84, came to the Lord in Nairobi in the early 1960s and graduated from Scott Theological College in Nairobi, Kenya. Sheegow was a contemporary of a high profile group of Somali Christians who received Biblical training in 1960s-1970s in including Adan Jim’ale Faarah, Ali Ibrahim, Abdulkadir Mursal, among others. Sheegow, one of the most high-profile Somali Christians in Mogadishu, kept a very low profile since the collapse of Somali’s central government in 1991.
Sheegow served as chief of staff for Samaritan’s Purse International from 1993-1994; Sheegow was also an active member of various Somali house-churches in Mogadishu until he stopped attending church almost two years ago for poor health and the worsening security situation in the capital. Both Muslims and Christians well loved Sheegow who lacked the traditional Somali clan protection (he was from a minority clan). Sheegow’s many Muslim friends in Mogadishu protected him from many harms since 1991. Sheegow told SFJ in 2015 that he feels safe in Mogadishu because of his many well-connected Muslim friends.

The Somali church lost one of its spiritual giants, and the country lost a respected media expert, journalist and broadcaster. 

Somali Media Association released this press release after his passing:

SOMA Mourns the Death of Veteran Journalist in Mogadishu

Mogadishu, Friday, April 20, 2019:The Somali Media Association (SOMA) mourns the loss of the veteran journalist Abdullahi Mohamed Sheegow who has passed away and buried in Mogadishu on Friday April 19, 2019.  Late Abdullahi Mohamed Sheegow was one of the most famous Somali journalists joining the Ministry of Information and holding various positions such as the head of Radio Mogadishu, Head of Radio Hargiesa, Director of Somalia National News Agency (SONNA) and the Director General of the Ministry of Information. The Somali Media Association (SOMA) sends its sympathies and condolences to the families and friends of late Abdullahi Mohamed Sheegow. A brief glance of his biography, late Abdullah Mohamed Sheegow was born in Galkacyo district in 1935, educated in private school from 1956 to 1961, then, went to Kenya for further education in between 1962 to 1965. Thereafter, he has attended media course in Germany in 1967 to 1968, studied politics in the Soviet Union in between 1972 to 1973, graduated from SIMAD Institute in 1981 to 1982 and completed political science studies from the Somali National University from 1983 to 1984. He has also served as Deputy Chairperson of the Somali Labour Union from 1977 to 1978.  Besides that, late Abdullahi Mohamed Sheegow was writer that have worked with UNESCO and SOSCENSA , The civil society organization of the Somalia South Central Non-State Actors. Furthermore, he has written and published a book titled “Support the Mother Language” (Afko Hooyo U HIILLI).  Late Abdullahi Mohamed Sheegwo will be best long -remembered to have been a person encouraging building the capacity of the Somali young journalists and contributing to the efforts to improve their journalistic ethics and standard and advocating for the use of the Somali language to revive the Somali language and the cultural heritage. “On behalf of the Somali Media Association (SOMA), I send my sympathies and condolences to the families and friends of late Abdullahi Mohamed Sheegow .” Mohamed Abduwahab, Secretary General of the Somali Media Association (SOMA) said. “The Somali Media Association (SOMA) shares this sad feeling and loss to all Somali Journalists and with the family’s members of late Abdullahi Mohamed Sheegow” Mohamed Osman Makaran , Chairperson of SOMA said.