Some unknown armed men have critically wounded a Somali television journalist in the country’s capital Mogadishu, police has announced.

Police said that the gunmen attacked the journalist’s car on Tuesday, shooting him several times in the neck and shoulder.

"The journalist, [identified as Mohamed Mohamud Timacad] was shot and seriously wounded... he has been rushed to hospital," a police officer who witnessed the incident said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, though the blame is usually placed on the al-Shabab militant group for violence against journalists.

The recent incident comes as violence against reporters in Somalia is escalating.

According to Reporters Without Borders Organization, more than 50 journalists have been killed over the past six years in the conflict-wracked country.

Some 18 media professionals were killed in Somalia in 2012 and at least six others have lost their lives this year.

Somalia suffered lack of an effective central government from from 1991 until August 2012, when warlords overthrew former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

In September 2012, Sheikh Mohamud was elected as the new president of the African country with a big majority.

The government in Mogadishu has been battling al-Shabab for the past six years and is propped up by a 17,000-strong African Union force from countries like Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, and Djibouti.