Saturday Oct 11, 2025 {HMC} 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.
SOURCE HIIRAAN ONLINE
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