The Somali Future Council, an opposition coalition bringing together prominent opposition politicians and former national and regional leaders, has condemned in the strongest terms the attack on the residence of former Commander of the Somali Custodial Corps, General Mahad Abdirahman, in Doolow, while raising grave concerns over allegations that foreign-operated, supplied or supported drone capabilities may have been involved.
The Council includes former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, former Galmudug President Abdikarim Hussein Guled, and the presidents of Jubaland and Puntland, Ahmed Mohamed Islam and Said Abdullahi Deni, respectively, alongside other opposition figures.
General Mahad, famously known as Taliye Shub, was previously removed from office and detained amid a political dispute linked to his relationship with South West President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed, popularly known as Laftagareen. According to the Somali Future Council, he has not been indicted or charged with any criminal or terrorism-related offence.
The Council said the Federal Government’s denial of responsibility, issued in a statement by the Ministry of Information, was “deeply alarming”, particularly because of the explanation given for the explosion at the residence.
Government denies involvement
The Federal Government of Somalia has said it is closely monitoring the incident in Doolow District, Gedo Region, and has categorically stated that it had no involvement in the incident.
According to the Government’s account, preliminary information received by security agencies indicates that the explosions were caused by explosive materials that were being prepared inside the house.
The Government has said it will promptly establish a fact-finding committee to conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the incident, including the purpose behind it and those responsible.
The Government has also stressed the importance of Doolow District to security and movement within Gedo Region, saying it attaches particular priority to maintaining stability in the district and ensuring the safety of the people living there.
It has further warned the public against what it described as false or unverified reports circulating ahead of the investigation, saying such reports are intended to confuse and mislead the Somali public. The Government has pledged that the findings of the investigation will be shared with the public once the process is complete.
Opposition challenges government explanation
The Somali Future Council has nevertheless challenged the Government’s explanation, arguing that the claim that explosives were being prepared inside the residence could create a dangerous precedent.
The Council warned that such an explanation could become a ready-made justification for future attacks against political opponents, allowing authorities to deny responsibility while attributing an attack to explosives allegedly stored or prepared by the victims themselves.
The Council did not present independent evidence establishing who was responsible for the Doolow incident. Instead, it called for the competing accounts to be tested through an independent investigation and independently verified evidence.
It expressed particular concern over allegations that foreign-operated, supplied or supported capabilities may have been involved, and strongly condemned what it described as any foreign military involvement in Somalia’s domestic political disputes.
The Council also condemned the alleged use of foreign-supported counter-terrorism capabilities against political opponents, warning that military and security assistance provided to Somalia for the fight against Al-Shabaab must not be diverted into domestic political disputes or electoral confrontation.
“We do not prejudge responsibility,” the Council said, insisting that the facts must be established through independently verified evidence.
It called for an immediate and independent investigation to determine what happened, who authorised or enabled the incident, and whether any foreign-provided capabilities were involved.
Warning to international partners
The Council’s appeal extends beyond the Federal Government to Somalia’s international security partners.
It called on international partners to ensure that weapons, drones, intelligence and counter-terrorism assistance supplied to Somalia to fight Al-Shabaab are never diverted towards domestic political disputes.
“Supporting Somalia is not supporting an incumbent,” the Council said, arguing that counter-terrorism assistance must remain directed at Al-Shabaab and must not become an instrument against Somalia’s political opponents.
The Council warned that the misuse and politicisation of internationally donated weaponry, ammunition and advanced lethal assets could endanger Somalia’s stability and create wider risks for the region.
The dispute over the Doolow incident therefore centres on two sharply contrasting accounts. The Federal Government says preliminary security information points to explosives being prepared inside the residence and has promised a fact-finding investigation. The Somali Future Council, meanwhile, is demanding an independent investigation and questioning whether foreign-supported capabilities may have been involved.
Neither account has, at this stage, independently established the full circumstances surrounding the explosion.
The Government says the findings of its investigation will be made public upon completion, while the Council is calling for an investigation capable of independently establishing what happened, who was responsible, and whether foreign-provided capabilities played any role.