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The assassination of Somali tribal leader Omar Abdullahi Abdi Ibrahim in the town of Silboh, located in the Puntland region of northeastern Somalia, sparked widespread controversy. He was killed in a drone strike that targeted his vehicle. The United Arab Emirates was accused of carrying out the operation on September 13, 2025, in Puntland, which declared self-rule in 1998. This accusation stemmed from the close ties between Puntland's president, Said Abdullahi Deni, and Abu Dhabi. Unlike the Republic of Somaliland, Puntland did not seek full independence from Somalia, opting instead to remain part of the country with a degree of autonomy under Deni's leadership. Somali media revealed that the airstrike targeted a vehicle belonging to Omar Abdi Ibrahim, a prominent sheikh from the Warsangali clan, known for his opposition to foreign influence in the Sanaag region, which is administratively part of Somaliland but contested by Puntland. The Somali newspaper Qaran 24 reported on September 14 that "local community members insist that this individual (Omar Abdi Ibrahim) had no connection to ISIS or al-Shabaab, and the missile strike in Silbo appears to be an intelligence failure." The report stated that "the assassination was carried out using a precision-guided missile with an estimated 250-kilogram payload, typically used against high-value armed targets, not against respected community elders." It noted that the strike would further destabilize an already fragile region, and that such errors not only anger local communities but also provide extremist groups with a new propaganda tool. The newspaper called for an immediate and independent investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable, stating that without this, there is growing concern about the recurrence of such incidents, further damaging efforts to stabilize Somalia. The BBC's Somali service, in a report published on September 14, described the tribal leader, Omar Abdullahi Abdi, as a "prominent peace activist." The police chief of Sanaag region in Puntland, Gashanle Sari Ali, told media outlets in the town of Badhan that the victim was driving alone when the attack occurred. "We found the vehicle with the victim's body inside. Both were badly damaged and charred," he said. As of September 15, the Puntland government had not commented on the assassination. Meanwhile, residents of the Badan and El-Buh areas of Sanaag region held protests demanding that authorities reveal the circumstances surrounding the killing of Sheikh Omar Abdullahi Abdi in an airstrike. The protesters condemned Puntland's silence regarding his death, which occurred when an unidentified aircraft targeted his vehicle with three missiles, completely destroying it and killing him. The state government issued only a statement from its security services indicating that an investigation into the incident would be conducted, according to the Somali New newspaper on September 15. The official reason for targeting the prominent clan elder remains unknown, but his killing coincided with a conflict between Puntland and the newly formed Northeast State in the Sanaag region, according to the local newspaper. Commenting on this, Mohamed Saleh, director of the African Center for Research and Policy Studies (AfroPolicy), said, "The area where Sheikh Abdi was killed is very sensitive and has witnessed clashes between ISIS, the Somali government, Puntland authorities, and Somalia's international partners fighting extremist groups in the country." Saleh added to Al-Istiqlal, "The information we received indicates that Sheikh Abdi was a prominent clan leader and a businessman, and his interests likely intersected with several parties." He explained that "he had disagreements at some point with the Puntland government regarding mining operations in the area where his clan (Sanaag) is head." The Sanaag region is rich in minerals, including barite, which is used in electronics and advanced industries. Thanks to its electrical and magnetic properties, it is used in the manufacture of electronics, such as solar cells and capacitors, and also contributes to the production of heat-resistant materials and conductors. It also plays a role in the coal and fossil fuel industries through the pyrite process, which transforms organic matter into energy-rich rocks like black shale or coal seams. The UAE is accused, and while authorities in Puntland have not identified who assassinated Sheikh Abdi, many have pointed the finger at the United Arab Emirates. Saleh said, “Since this sheikh was a businessman and there are Emirati companies carrying out mining operations there—which he opposed—the most likely scenario is a conflict of interest.” However, he was also accused of harboring extremist elements fighting the government, and thus, according to Saleh, he was killed under these pretexts. Saleh emphasized that "Sheikh Abdi was an important figure and involved in numerous issues, therefore his opponents had an interest in eliminating him." He stated that the UAE could not have carried out the assassination alone without a green light from the regional government, adding, "This matter is complex, and its full details have not yet emerged." Saleh concluded by saying, "The situation in Somalia is complex, both nationally and regionally." He pointed out that Sanaag is a conflict zone between Puntland and Somaliland, and "these problems continue to escalate there." Somali activists also asserted that a UAE drone targeted him and that local authorities were complicit. An activist named "Abla" stated on her X account that "the UAE carried out the assassination via a drone strike." According to her, "Sheikh Omar Abdi Ibrahim was one of the most prominent opponents of the UAE's attempts to exploit the region's resources. The areas of Sool, Sanaag, and Ain are known to be among the richest in northern Somalia, containing oil, gas, and gold, making them a constant battleground for conflicts and attempts to displace the population." She quoted unnamed local sources as saying that "the assassination of Sheikh Omar was part of a secret agreement between Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the UAE, with whom the former enjoys shared economic interests." The most dangerous aspect of this agreement (the date and location of its signing were not disclosed), signed between the UAE and Somalia, is Articles 3 and 4, which grant Abu Dhabi "the right to eliminate any threat to its activities within Somali territory," according to the activist. Abla stated that "under this clause, Sheikh Omar Abdi Ibrahim's objection to Emirati mining operations in Sanaag was considered a direct threat, and he was legally assassinated according to the wording adopted in the agreement." The activist concluded that "what happened is nothing more than the implementation of corporate law backed by military force. The UAE has granted itself a blank check to eliminate anyone who opposes its exploitation of resources across Africa, whether a tribal leader, activist, journalist, or youth leader." Somali activist Egal Ayay commented, "We have consistently warned that the Emiratis are leading Somalia toward the same chaos they orchestrated in Yemen, Libya, and Sudan." In a post on X on September 14, he added, "Today, we are witnessing the rise of a puppet regime, with Said Abdullahi Dini as a Somali version of Mohamed Hamdan Dahlan (leader of the Rapid Support Forces militia in Sudan)." The activist further stated that "during a recent delegation meeting in Bosaso (date unspecified), Sheikh Abdi expressed his strong opposition to Dini's plan to deploy foreign mercenaries to protect Emirati mining operations in the Sanaag region." In response, the activist added: “Despite being portrayed as a counterterrorism operation, the raid actually targeted a prominent sheikh based on intelligence provided by Dini himself.” He pointed out that “Dini sent a message to anyone who dares to oppose his foreign-backed agenda.” He continued: “This act sets a dangerous precedent.” This eliminates opposition to pave the way for the exploitation of Somalia's natural resources, particularly in the Sanaag region, by Emirati religious patrons. Israel is drawn to the assassination of Sheikh Omar Abdi, known for his opposition to foreign influence in Somalia, perhaps to silence him before Puntland leader Said Deni assumes the presidency, thus opening all Somali territory to Israeli occupation, not just his own, according to observers. Following Sheikh Abdi's assassination, Puntland's president, Said Deni, who is close to the UAE, announced his candidacy for the Somali presidential elections scheduled for May 2026. On September 15, Puntland's Minister of Information, Mahmoud Eid Dirir, described Deni as "a competent and trustworthy leader with a proven track record of good governance." He also emphasized that Somalia is experiencing profound political instability and needs strong leadership capable of restoring unity and order. He added, "President Deni is not just a candidate; he is capable of leading the country through this turbulent period," accusing the Somali federal government of overstepping its authority in matters such as migration and its control over The operation does not extend beyond the capital, Mogadishu. This comes at a time when the Israeli news platform "Or Vialkov" revealed on September 6th a secret military collaboration between the UAE and Israel, represented by the deployment of an Israeli-made radar in the Puntland region of Somalia, opposite the Yemeni coast. According to the platform, this radar aims to detect and track missile and drone launches originating from Yemen, a move that reveals a new strategy to counter the escalating Yemeni threat against the Israeli occupation. The Israeli report indicated that the deployed radar is an ELM-2084, an advanced multi-mission system developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, known for its superior ability to detect and track various aerial targets, including ballistic missiles and drones. The deployment of this radar in Somalia, which appears to have been carried out with the approval of the local authorities in Puntland, is a dangerous indicator of the level of military cooperation between the UAE and Israel. This Emirati support comes amidst the apparent inability of the United States and Britain to deter the escalating missile attacks from Yemen against the occupied territories, which were launched in support of the Gaza Strip. At the beginning of February In 2025, Israel's Channel 12 reported that Somaliland, Puntland, and Morocco were potential destinations for Palestinians the US administration sought to relocate. Puntland covers approximately 212,000 square kilometers, roughly a third of Somalia's total area, and has a population of about 5 million who speak Somali, Arabic, and English. Israel was reportedly considering plans to relocate Gaza residents to Puntland, following US President Donald Trump's pledge to resettle them in "safer and more beautiful" communities, according to The Telegraph on February 6, 2025. On February 6, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz ordered the army to prepare for the "voluntary" emigration of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, including "special arrangements" for departure by sea and air. At the time, Yaqub Mohamed Abdullahi, Puntland's deputy information minister, told the Telegraph that the state would be happy to host refugees from Gaza, provided they came voluntarily.