Legendary Somali journalist Abdi Goobdoon dies in Mogadishu

By: Ahmed Mohamed Adan 

A prominent Somali journalist Abdi Haji Goobdoon has died of an asthma attack onTuesday morning in Mogadishu while aged 78, family members have confirmed.

The late journalist’s brother Abukar Hajji Goobdoon told Goobjoog News that Goobdoon suffered breathing difficulties late Monday and passed on Tuesday morning.

He was born in Jigjiga town of Zone-Five neighboring Ethiopia.

Goobdoon started his primary education in 1956 at SYL primary and secondary school in Mogadishu where he finished his primary and secondary education in 1963.

He joined Radio Moscow in Moscow 1964 where he was trained on radio skills.

Goobdoon returned home two years later and was employed at the state owned Radio Mogadishu.

In 1967 Goobdoon went into exile after Somali government accused of impartiality and political bias in favour of then Prime Minister Abdirashid Ali Sharmake during the general elections.

He was called back by late President Mohamed Siyad, a year after the military coup.

In 1971 he was appointed as the head of the translation and media cooperation department.

Between 1972-1982 he worked with former Somalia president Mohamed Siyad Barre as his media aide.

Goobdoon was appointed as the director general of Information Ministry. Four years later he was transferred to Ministry of Labour and Sports where he served as director general.

People who interacted with Goobdoon say he was a professional journalist with news broadcasting talents and he exerted most of his time reporting and entertaining whole the nation through media channels including Radio Mogadishu.