Thursday December 11, 2025 (HMC)A committee tasked with investigating the killing of traditional elder Omar Abdullahi Ahmed has released a comprehensive report detailing the circumstances surrounding his death, based on findings from Puntland security agencies and witness testimonies.
According to the official report, Chief Omar left the town of Ceelbuh in the Sanaag region on September 13, 2025, traveling to Badhan district to participate in reconciliation talks aimed at resolving a dispute between two local clans. The committee confirmed that he was part of a peace delegation led by Sultan Abdisalan.
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The report further states that Chief Omar was an officially registered traditional leader under the Puntland Ministry of Interior and played a significant role in peacebuilding and community mobilization in the Sanaag region.
Puntland security institutions including the CID and other security forces verified that the elder had no criminal or security record. Witnesses at the scene confirmed that Chief Omar was alone in his vehicle when he was struck.
As part of the investigation, the committee presented missile fragments and photographs from the attack site, identifying the type of weapon used. It also displayed the vehicle he had been driving, a Suzuki. The report states that AFRICOM acknowledged conducting the airstrike that resulted in his death.
DNA analysis confirmed that only one male individual died at the scene, consistent with other evidence gathered by the investigation team.
The committee concluded that Chief Omar was a peaceful figure who dedicated his life to serving his community and had no links to criminal or militant activity.
Residents of Ceel Buh district have continued to demand justice and clarity following the killing of the respected clan elder, widely known as Omar, in a U.S. airstrike. He was killed on September 13 in the Jicanyo area near Ceel Buh, in a strike that U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) later described as targeting an al-Shabaab weapons dealer.
While AFRICOM stated that the operation “did not injure or kill civilians,” the command did not identify the individual killed. Local officials, however, insist that the time and location of the airstrike match the attack that killed Omar figure they describe as a lifelong peacemaker, not a militant.
The lack of transparency regarding the victim’s identity has fueled anger and deepened mistrust among the community in Ceel Buh, who continue to call for accountability and an independent investigation.
Source Hiiraan Online
