MOGADISHU, Somalia – A senior officer in the Somali National Army (SNA) was shot dead by a subordinate soldier on Saturday near the central town of Moqokori, Hiiraan region, in an incident security officials suspect may be linked to the Al-Shabaab militant group, which is waging an insurgency against Somalia’s federal government led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Colonel Abdirahman Hujale, commander of the 26th Battalion of the SNA’s 27th Division, was killed while carrying out frontline leadership duties. The assailant, a junior soldier, opened fire unexpectedly, though the motive remains unclear, according to military sources.
The killing took place in a region frequently targeted by Al-Shabaab’s militant attacks. The suspect was apprehended, and an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of the attack, officials said.
Hujale’s death comes weeks after the killing of another senior commander, Nur Faray, near the Afgoye district. Both officers were leading operations against Al-Shabaab, which controls swathes of central and southern Somalia.
Security analysts suggest Al-Shabaab may have infiltrated the SNA’s ranks, with some soldiers allegedly working covertly for the group. These claims could not be independently verified.
Al-Shabaab has intensified attacks on government forces in recent months, with reports indicating that some soldiers may be collaborating with the militants, a charge periodically leveled against politicians and former officials.
Local authorities in Moqokori have not ruled out Al-Shabaab’s involvement, though a preliminary report suggested the assailant may have been under the influence of narcotics. The district governor highlighted widespread drug use among troops in combat zones as a growing issue undermining discipline and operational effectiveness.
The federal government said its forces have escalated operations against Al-Shabaab, claiming to have killed several fighters. Al-Shabaab, in turn, claimed responsibility for killing over 22 government soldiers in a retaliatory attack. The figure could not be independently verified, as the group is known for exaggerated propaganda.
HORN LIFE
