MOGADISHU, Somalia – A senior Somali National Army officer was shot dead on Saturday in the Lower Shabelle region, military sources said, in an attack highlighting the persistent security challenges facing Somalia amid its fight against Islamist insurgents.
Colonel Nuur Farey, commander of the army’s 14th October Brigade, was killed near the town of Afgoye, approximately 30 km southwest of the capital Mogadishu, while addressing troops, according to witnesses and a military official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The assailant, described as wearing a military uniform, opened fire before fleeing the scene.
The motive for the killing remains unclear, with speculation ranging from an internal dispute to a possible infiltration by al Shabaab, the al Qaeda-linked militant group that has waged a long insurgency against Somalia’s government. The Somali government has not yet issued an official statement confirming the incident or the identity of the attacker.
“Colonel Farey was a key figure in operations against al Shabaab in Lower Shabelle,” said a local security official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. “His death is a significant loss to the brigade and the ongoing efforts to secure the region.”
Lower Shabelle, a fertile agricultural area, has been a hotspot for clashes between government forces and al-Shabaab militants, who control large swathes of rural territory in southern and central Somalia. The group frequently targets military personnel and government officials in ambushes and assassinations.
The killing comes as Somali forces, backed by African Union troops and U.S. airstrikes, intensify their campaign to dislodge al Shabaab from its strongholds. On March 21, the Somali Air Force reported killing 82 militants in airstrikes in the same region, underscoring the ongoing violence.
No group has claimed responsibility for the assassination, and investigations are underway to determine whether the attacker was a soldier or an insurgent in disguise.
