Although he had no previous background in journalism, he set out to establish a new radio network in Somalia so as to facilitate access to information and to give local residents an outlet to express their views.
[2] In early 1999, Sharmarke and fellow Somali emigrants to Canada Ahmed Abdisalam Adan and Mohamed Elmi returned to Mogadishu following a period of relative calm in order to finalize market research that they had conducted on the feasibility and technological equipment necessary to start a new media company in the city.
[2] It ran a number of popular call-in programs, which allowed residents of Mogadishu and the surrounding area to share their views on various issues of local interest, including topics related to culture, health, religion, peace, education and economy.
[5] Due to its transmissions of international segments, the network earned criticism from religious fundamentalists,[5] with the Al-Shabaab militant group routinely launching attacks against the company and its staff.
In 2007, the former Transitional Federal Government (TFG) also shut down HornAfrik's radio and television stations on charges that it was abetting terrorist groups by airing programs which allegedly supported extremist elements.
[3] In 2002, Sharmarke and the other co-founders of HornAfrik were honored as the winners of the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE's) International Press Freedom Award.
HornAfrik was presented the award for its work in the face of threats and intimidation at a time when there was no effective legal recourse or protection for the local press.