Drone Strikes on ex Somalia Prison Chief’s Home

MOGADISHU, Somalia: Former Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire has condemned a reported drone strike on the home of former Custodial Corps commander General Mahad Abdirahman Aden in Doolow, warning that the attack risks deepening the country’s political and security crisis.

Images circulated on Thursday showed extensive damage to a residential building said to belong to Mahad, including a partially destroyed roof, shattered walls and what appeared to be an impact crater outside the house.

It was not immediately clear whether Mahad was inside the building at the time of the attack or whether there were casualties.

Somali federal authorities had not publicly commented on the incident or confirmed who carried out the reported strike.

“Last night’s drone strike on the home of General Mahad Abdirahman Aden marks a dangerous new dimension in Somalia’s crisis,” Khaire said.

He accused the federal administration of introducing lethal military capabilities into a domestic political confrontation, although he offered no evidence identifying the operator of the drone.

“This use of lethal force by an administration whose mandate has expired is unjustifiable,” Khaire said.

“Doolow is a stable district of Jubaland, and bringing armed drones into a political dispute there sets the country on a dangerous course.”

“Political differences cannot be settled by force and air strikes,” he added.

The reference to an expired mandate reflects claims by opponents of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who have rejected constitutional amendments extending presidential and parliamentary terms from four to five years and shifting elections to 2027. The government maintains that the amendments were lawfully approved by parliament.

Mahad, widely known as General Shub, was removed as commander of Somalia’s Custodial Corps in March and replaced by Major General Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud.

His dismissal came amid worsening tensions between the federal government and regional political leaders.

Unconfirmed reports at the time said security personnel had been deployed around Mahad’s Mogadishu residence and that his official guards had been withdrawn.

The federal government did not publicly explain the reasons for his removal.

Doolow lies in Somalia’s Gedo region near the borders with Ethiopia and Kenya. Although constitutionally part of Jubaland, control of Gedo has long been contested between the administration of Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe and federal authorities in Mogadishu.

The latest incident comes as Somalia confronts widening political divisions alongside its continuing campaign against the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab group.

Fighting between federal forces and regional or opposition-aligned militias has intensified in several areas, raising fears that internal power struggles could divert personnel and resources from counterterrorism operations.

Khaire served as Somalia’s prime minister from 2017 until parliament removed him in a no-confidence vote in July 2020.

He has since remained an influential opposition figure and an outspoken critic of the Mohamud administration.