Saturday April 20, 2024
Somali artist and soldier Abdulkhadir Mohamed Adan, known as Aargute, in a still from one of his music videos. (Credit: SomaliSwiss)
ISTANBUL (HOL) — Abdulkhadir Mohamed Adan, popularly known as Aargute, died Thursday evening in Turkey from injuries sustained in the SYL hotel bombing in Mogadishu on March 14. The attack, claimed by the militant group Al-Shabaab, resulted in the deaths of three soldiers and injuries to 27 others, as reported by the local police. Aargute was among the 18 severely wounded individuals airlifted to Turkey for specialized medical treatment.
Aargute was a prominent figure in Mogadishu's cultural landscape, first making his mark in the city before expanding his artistic horizons to Nairobi, Kenya. Aargute, known for his patriotic music, recently released the song "I am Sending a Message," which honours military troops and themes of resilience. His death has sparked an outpouring of grief from the arts community, the media, and government officials.
Following the attack, the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) arrested 16 people linked to the bombing, including the main facilitator, Abdinasir Dahir Noor. The investigation into a security breach at a critical checkpoint that enabled the attack is ongoing. Following these events, Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre called a security meeting to discuss national defence strategies and the ongoing threat posed by Al-Shabaab.
Details about the burial of Abdulkhadir Mohamed Adan Hussein (Aargute) are yet to be announced.