Saturday October 11, 2025
Badhan (HOL) — Senior security and administrative officials
in the Sanaag region have on Wednesday strongly denied U.S. report that a man
killed in an American airstrike in September was an arms dealer for the
al-Shabab militant group.
Caaqil Omar Abdillahi Abdi, a respected traditional elder was
killed on Sept. 13, 2025, in the Jicanyo area near Ceel Buh district. The U.S.
Africa Command (AFRICOM) later said it had targeted an al-Shabab arms dealer in
the region but did not release a name. Local officials insist the strike
coincided exactly with the time and place of Omar’s death and say he was an
innocent community leader.
“This was an unexpected and shocking incident,” said Faisal
Abdillahi, the Sanaag regional intelligence chief. “A man driving his car was
bombed from the air. We, the officials, had no prior knowledge or warning. The
deceased was a prominent figure who worked closely with the community. We don’t
understand why he was targeted.”
Abdillahi said there were no known allegations linking the
elder to militant groups. “We have never heard of any terrorist charges against
him. People are now terrified whenever they hear aircraft overhead. We need to
know why he was killed and who authorized it.”
Brig. Gen. Abdillahi Omar Anshuur, commander of the Puntland Dervish Forces’ 9th Division for the Sanaag and Hayland regions,
and Col. Aden Ahmed Ali, commander of the Sanaag Regional Police Force.
Brig. Gen. Abdillahi Omar Anshuur, commander of the Puntland
Dervish Forces’ 9th Division, which covers the Sanaag and Hayland regions, said
Omar had a long record of serving his community.
“I knew Caaqil Omar for decades — we worked together along
the coast in the 1980s,” Anshuur said. “He was a peacemaker who helped defend
Puntland during conflicts with al-Shabab and ISIS. His killing was illegal and
unjust. He had been in Bosaso for 20 days and had even met President Said
Abdullahi Deni. If he were guilty of anything, he would have been arrested, not
bombed.”
The general added that the airstrike had sown fear and
instability in the area. “We want answers. This deliberate killing has created
confusion and insecurity among our people,” he said.
Col. Aden Ahmed Ali, the regional police commander, said
local authorities initially had no idea who conducted the strike. “For a week,
we searched for answers. Only later did AFRICOM release a short statement
confirming it carried out an airstrike but without naming the target,” Ali
said.
“The date and location matched the attack that killed Chief
Omar. He was not hiding in the bush or on any wanted list. He was a public
figure, known for protecting the community and working with the government,”
Ali said. “We are certain he was not a terrorist. The United States must
explain why a respected peacemaker was hit with three missiles. We call on
Washington to provide a clear answer.”
The governor of Puntland's Sanaag region, Said Ahmed Jama
The governor of Puntland's Sanaag region, Said Ahmed Jama described
Omar as “a well-known community figure and problem-solver.”
“He was involved in development and mediation work,” the
governor said. “There were no complaints, rumors, or charges against him. The
regional administration was never informed of any accusations. We are awaiting
clarification from the U.S. on why this man was targeted.”
The regional administration, the governor added, “worked
closely with the late Caaqil Omar and is deeply dissatisfied with how he was
killed. We are calling for justice.”
Ali Abdillahi Abdi Ibrahim, elder brother of the deceased, speaks at the site where a monument was built in his brother’s memory.
The denials from regional authorities come amid growing
protests in Sanaag and parts of Puntland, where community members have demanded
transparency from the U.S. government. Families and local leaders have called
on Washington to release evidence supporting its claim that the strike targeted
an al-Shabab operative.
AFRICOM has conducted airstrikes in Somalia for nearly two
decades, targeting al-Shabab and Islamic State fighters. The command says its
operations are carefully planned to minimize civilian casualties. However,
Somali officials and rights organizations have long criticized the U.S. for a
lack of transparency and accountability. Independent investigations have
occasionally found that civilians — including community leaders — have been
killed in mistaken or poorly verified strikes.