Journalist Mohammed Aïda killed in targeted car bombing in eastern Yemen

Reporters Without Borders condemns the assassination of Al Arabiya correspondent and demands a transparent, independent investigation.

Mohammed Aïda, a correspondent for the television news channels Al Arabiya and Al Hadath, was killed on 24 June in eastern Yemen after an explosive device planted in his vehicle detonated. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the targeted killing and called for a transparent, independent investigation to identify those responsible.

On the evening of 24 June, Mohammed Aïda dropped off his wife and four children at their home in Mukalla, situated in Yemen’s Hadhramaut governorate, before continuing towards the offices of the Saudi-owned broadcaster Al Arabiya. Shortly afterwards, at approximately 6pm, his vehicle exploded.

According to information obtained by RSF, the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted inside the car. Aïda, who reported for both Al Arabiya and Al Hadath, two channels owned by the Saudi media group Al Arabiya, had received anonymous phone calls and threatening messages in recent days, according to his colleagues.

During a live broadcast on the night of the killing, his Al Arabiya colleague Radfan al-Debeis shared that the previous night, Mohammed had told him he planned to move his family to Aden at the end of June, once his children had finished the school year.

The governor of Hadhramaut, who is aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government based in Aden, condemned the attack, stating that several suspects had already been arrested and that the investigation was ongoing. He added that authorities had been aware of the threats targeting the journalist in the days leading up to his death.

RSF stated that the assassination of Mohammed Aïda is a tragedy that recalls the darkest periods of violence against journalists in Yemen, offering thoughts to his family and colleagues. The organisation noted that what makes this crime particularly alarming is that it may have been preventable, given the repeated threats Aïda had received in recent days, as well as over the course of his career. RSF called on the authorities to conduct a thorough, transparent, and independent investigation so that all those involved in this heinous assassination are brought to justice.