US Says Elder Killed in Somalia Airstrike Was Al-Shabaab Weapons Facilitator, Family Disputes Claim

BADHAN, Somalia - A traditional elder killed in northern Somalia recently has been linked to the Al-Shabaab weapons network, the US Africa Command said on Wednesday, bringing to a close a matter that had caused panic and concerns in the country.

Abdullahi Omar Abdi was killed a few days ago within Sanaag — a disputed region between Somaliland and Puntland states, but falls under the newly created SSC-Khatumo, which has since been renamed Northeastern State.

Killed on September 13th near Badhan, the US termed Abdi as an Al-Shabab member “responsible for procuring and transferring illegal weapons.” We were carried out in coordination with Somalia’s federal government and armed forces.

“We will continue precision strikes to degrade Al-Shabab’s ability to threaten the US homeland, our forces and our citizens abroad,” the command said. The target was identified by locals and members of his family, even though the US Africa Command did not directly mention him.

Close family members who have spoken to the media said the airstrike wrongly targeted Abdi, claiming that he was traveling alone, adding that he does not have links to the Al-Shabaab militants who have, for two decades, terrorized security infrastructure, besides killing innocent civilians.

Further, the family described him as a peace mediator who worked closely with the local development committee and had reportedly met Puntland leader Said Abdullahi Deni in Bosaso. Abdi was known as a critic of the newly declared Northeastern administration in Las Anod, which remains at the center of political tensions.

Authorities in Puntland recovered parts of his remains from the scene, and preliminary investigations had established that intelligence operatives from the US tracked suspected Al-Shabaab members who had entered Sanaag.

Police commander Col. Aden Ahmed Ali said an inquiry is ongoing to establish the motive and identify those responsible, while urging residents to remain calm. The death raised eyebrows before the US Africa Command took responsibility, calming a potentially explosive political storm.

GAROWE ONLINE