MOGADISHU, Somalia — The Somali Future Council has strongly condemned an attack on the home of former Somali Custodial Corps commander General Mahad Abdirahman in Doolow, raising concerns over allegations that foreign-backed drones were involved.
In a statement, the council said the reported attack was deeply concerning, particularly amid claims that drones supported by foreign actors were used to target the general’s residence.
The council noted that General Mahad had previously been removed from his position and detained following a political dispute linked to his family’s relationship with former South West president Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen.
It said that, to its knowledge, the former commander had not been charged with any criminal or terrorism-related offence.
The council also expressed concern over the federal government’s denial of responsibility for the incident and its preliminary explanation that the explosion was caused by explosive materials being prepared inside the house.
It warned that such an explanation, if used to deflect responsibility without an independent investigation, could set a dangerous precedent in Somalia.
The council argued that political opponents could potentially be targeted in the future, with authorities then denying responsibility and blaming victims by claiming that explosives had been stored or prepared inside their homes.
The group said it was not assigning responsibility for the attack to any particular party at this stage, stressing that the circumstances should instead be established through independently verified evidence.
It called for an urgent and independent investigation to determine what happened, who ordered or facilitated the attack and whether foreign military capabilities provided to Somalia were involved.
The council also condemned any foreign interference in Somalia’s internal political disputes and rejected the use of counterterrorism capabilities supported by foreign governments against political opponents.
It urged Somalia’s international partners to ensure that weapons, drones, intelligence and counterterrorism assistance provided to the country are used solely for their stated purpose of combating Al-Shabaab and protecting civilians.
“The support provided to Somalia should not be support for individuals or political factions,” the council said, stressing that international assistance should strengthen efforts against Al-Shabaab rather than become an instrument in domestic political disputes.
The council further warned that the misuse or politicisation of weapons, ammunition and other military capabilities supplied by international partners could undermine Somalia’s stability and have broader consequences for regional security.
The statement comes amid heightened political tensions between the federal government and opposition figures and follows recent allegations surrounding an attack on General Mahad’s residence in Doolow.
The federal government has previously denied involvement in the Doolow incident and said preliminary security information pointed to an explosion involving explosives inside a house. It has also pledged to establish a fact-finding committee to investigate the circumstances.
The competing accounts have fuelled calls for an independent inquiry capable of establishing the facts and determining responsibility for the incident.
