Somalia's Attorney General Suleiman Mohamed Mohamud has appointed a special prosecutor for crimes against the country’s journalists.

The Attorney General said in a statement that the elected prosecutor will sue and probe those who carried out killings and ‘maiming’ of journalists.

The move comes at a time the country is already investigating people who are behind the killing of journalists.

According to the BBC, a tally by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) indicates that 69 journalists have been killed in Somalia since 1992, making the country one of the deadliest countries for journalists on the continent.

The statement added that perpetrators would face the full force of the law.

The development follows a direct order to the attorney general’s office from the Banadir region court to investigate allegations of killing journalists in the country.

Besides, media advocacy organisations in Somalia have hailed the appointment of the special prosecutor.