Somali poet, playwright and songwriter Warsame Shire Awale was murdered Tuesday near Mogadishu. He had lately been involved in producing plays making fun of Al-Qaeda and other extremist groups and urging young people to work with the government.

Awale had also received death threats over songs calling for people to join the police force.

Eighteen journalists and media personalities have been murdered in Somalia this year. The Al-Shabab terror network has claimed responsibility for 10 of the deaths.