Friday September 4, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali federal government has denied involvement in a reported drone strike on the residence of former Somali Correctional Service Commander Gen. Mahad Abdirahman Shub in Doolow district of Gedo region.
In a statement Friday, the Ministry of Information said preliminary information received by security agencies indicated that the explosions were caused by explosives being prepared inside the house.
“The government will immediately appoint a fact-finding committee to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, its motives and who was behind it,” the statement said.
The ministry said Doolow district is important for security and movement in Gedo region, adding that the federal government gives special priority to maintaining stability in the district and protecting residents.
The government warned against what it described as false information being circulated about the incident, saying such reports were intended to confuse the public.
It said the findings of the investigation would be shared with the public once the inquiry is completed.
Former Somali Correctional Service Commander Gen. Mahad Abdirahman Shub survived the incident with minor injuries, while four civilians, including his wife, were also injured, according to Jubaland State.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 11:40 p.m. Thursday when an explosion struck the compound where Shub was staying.
He was later taken to a medical facility in Doolow, with reports indicating that plans were underway to transfer him to Dolo, Ethiopia, for further treatment.
Jubaland regional authorities accused Turkish drones of carrying out the attack and said Shub was targeted because of his political differences with Somalia’s federal government.
“This barbaric attack directly targeted the house of the former Commander of the Federal Government Correctional Service Mahad Abdirahman Aden, who was targeted by the Federal Government and Turkey solely because of his political differences,” Jubaland said in a statement.
Jubaland described the incident as a war crime and called for accountability from what it described as the outgoing federal administration and the Turkish government.
It accused Türkiye of allowing its aircraft to be used to target people with opposing political views.
Jubaland also called on the United Nations, African Union, IGAD, the United States and the European Union to examine Türkiye’s actions in Somalia, saying they were not in the interests of the Somali people or the wider region.
The regional administration said the incident could damage Türkiye’s role as a mediator in Somalia’s internal political disputes, arguing that Ankara had shown support for one side.
Shub is considered a close ally of former South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, whose forces attacked Baidoa on Thursday morning.
South West State’s Council of Ministers had earlier designated forces loyal to Laftagareen as a terrorist group, accusing them of joining al-Shabab.
Laftagareen has rejected the designation, saying forces loyal to him are not linked to al-Shabab and accusing the federal government and South West authorities of politicizing the security situation.
Baidoa, about 245 kilometers northwest of Mogadishu, is a major humanitarian hub and hosts more than half a million people displaced by conflict and drought.