Murder of top commissioner sparks protest in Somalia

Dozens of people took to the streets in parts of Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital on Thursday in protest of the killing of Hodan District commissioner Abdihakim Dhagajuun.

Protesters set up barricades along several routes, with security forces reportedly using live ammunition to disperse participants.

Dhagajuun was reportedly killed on early Thursday in a shootout near Hawlwadag intersection, around a security checkpoint in Mogadishu.

Dhagajun was recently in Turkey receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained in a bomb blast, and was killed hours after returning to the Somali capital, according to Somali journalist Harun Maruf.

The slain official returned to Mogadishu just hours before his killing. Dhagajuun has been in Turkey for treatment following an Al-Shabaab IED attack in Nov. In his last Facebook post, he wrote he is determined to serve the community as long as he is alive. https://t.co/Mj5H15wWGn pic.twitter.com/5b9QgDLDsD

— Harun Maruf (@HarunMaruf) January 21, 2021

According to Mogadishu mayor Omar Filish, “The deceased was killed last night at around 2 am between Howlwadag intersection and Aden Adde Road junction. He was shot by soldiers there and two of his bodyguards were wounded in the incident.”

Omar Filish’s said that an investigation will be launched into the cause of the shooting between the government forces and the bodyguards of the deceased.

Olajumoke Adeleke