Badhan, Somalia — Senior security and administrative officials in the Sanaag region have on Wednesday strongly denied U.S. report that a man killed in an American airstrike in September was an arms dealer for the al-Shabab militant group.


Caaqil Omar Abdillahi
Abdi, a respected traditional elder was killed on Sept. 13, 2025, in the
Jicanyo area near Ceel Buh district. The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) later
said it had targeted an al-Shabab arms dealer in the region but did not release
a name. Local officials insist the strike coincided exactly with the time and
place of Omar’s death and say he was an innocent community leader.
"This was an
unexpected and shocking incident,” said Faisal Abdillahi, the Sanaag regional
intelligence chief. "A man driving his car was bombed from the air. We, the
officials, had no prior knowledge or warning. The deceased was a prominent
figure who worked closely with the community. We don’t understand why he was
targeted.”
Abdillahi said there
were no known allegations linking the elder to militant groups. "We have never
heard of any terrorist charges against him. People are now terrified whenever
they hear aircraft overhead. We need to know why he was killed and who authorized
it.”
Brig. Gen. Abdillahi
Omar Anshuur, commander of the Puntland Dervish Forces’ 9th Division, which
covers the Sanaag and Hayland regions, said Omar had a long record of serving
his community.
"I knew Caaqil Omar
for decades — we worked together along the coast in the 1980s,” Anshuur said.
"He was a peacemaker who helped defend Puntland during conflicts with al-Shabab
and ISIS. His killing was illegal and unjust. He had been in Bosaso for 20 days
and had even met President Said Abdullahi Deni. If he were guilty of anything,
he would have been arrested, not bombed.”
The general added that
the airstrike had sown fear and instability in the area. "We want answers. This
deliberate killing has created confusion and insecurity among our people,” he
said.
Col. Aden Ahmed Ali,
the regional police commander, said local authorities initially had no idea who
conducted the strike. "For a week, we searched for answers. Only later did
AFRICOM release a short statement confirming it carried out an airstrike but without
naming the target,” Ali said.
"The date and location
matched the attack that killed Chief Omar. He was not hiding in the bush or on
any wanted list. He was a public figure, known for protecting the community and
working with the government,” Ali said. "We are certain he was not a terrorist.
The United States must explain why a respected peacemaker was hit with three
missiles. We call on Washington to provide a clear answer.”
The governor of
Puntland's Sanaag region, Said Ahmed Jama described Omar as "a well-known
community figure and problem-solver.”
"He was involved in
development and mediation work,” the governor said. "There were no complaints,
rumors, or charges against him. The regional administration was never informed
of any accusations. We are awaiting clarification from the U.S. on why this man
was targeted.”
The regional
administration, the governor added, "worked closely with the late Caaqil Omar
and is deeply dissatisfied with how he was killed. We are calling for justice.”
The denials from
regional authorities come amid growing protests in Sanaag and parts of
Puntland, where community members have demanded transparency from the U.S.
government. Families and local leaders have called on Washington to release
evidence supporting its claim that the strike targeted an al-Shabab operative.
AFRICOM has conducted
airstrikes in Somalia for nearly two decades, targeting al-Shabab and Islamic
State fighters. The command says its operations are carefully planned to
minimize civilian casualties. However, Somali officials and rights
organizations have long criticized the U.S. for a lack of transparency and
accountability. Independent investigations have occasionally found that
civilians — including community leaders — have been killed in mistaken or
poorly verified strikes.


Source: Hiiraan Online