Somali comedian shot dead after mocking Islamist militants

A popular Somali comedian was killed on Tuesday, the Associated Press reports. Abdi Jeylani Malaq, 43, was shot dead in Mogadishu.

Malaq was a popular radio and T.V personality, a comedian and a playwright, who often mocked Islamist militants for recruiting boys and killing civilians. He was killed by two young men near his home.

Human Rights groups and friends of Malaq say that it was a targeted killing.

Amnesty International has called upon Somali authorities to take action in the wake of the killing, and re-establish the rule of law in the troubled East African nation.