BAIDOA, Somalia — Somalia’s former South West administration has condemned what it described as a Turkish drone strike targeting the home of General Mahad Abdirahman Cabdi, known as General Shub, in the town of Doolow.
The ex-South West Ministry of Information, aligned with the administration of Abdiaziz Laftagareen, said the strike wounded General Shub and killed other people who were at the residence.
In a statement, the ministry alleged that the attack was not part of an operation against the Al-Shabaab group or other armed organisations, but had deliberately targeted General Shub, whom it described as a military officer and politician opposed to Somalia’s federal government under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
The administration warned that the alleged use of Turkish drones to target Somali politicians and military officers could further deepen political tensions in the country.
It called on the Turkish government to publicly disclose who decided to target General Shub and his residence, as well as the Somali and Turkish officials who allegedly requested, approved or ordered the operation.
The South West administration also called for all information related to the alleged operation, including flight records, communications, intelligence and operational authorisations, to be preserved.
It demanded an independent international investigation into who authorised the strike, how it was carried out and the resulting casualties.
The administration urged the African Union, the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), the United Nations, European Union, United States, Arab League and other international partners supporting Somalia to condemn the alleged attack and demand accountability.
The South West administration said Somalia’s political disputes should be resolved through dialogue and political processes rather than through the use of foreign military power.
There was no immediate response from the Turkish or Somali federal governments regarding the allegations.
