Investigators say U.S. AFRICOM strike killed clan elder peace delegate, not militant

Puntland Stateinquiry says U.S. airstrike killed respected elder, not militant

GAROWE, Somalia — A Puntland State investigative committee has concluded that a U.S. airstrike killed traditional elder Omar Abdillahi Abdi as he traveled to clan peace talks in the Sanaag region, finding no evidence he had ties to criminal or militant activity.

The committee’s report, based on Puntland State security agency records and witness testimony, details the final hours of the elder known locally as Omar. It says he left the town of Ceel Buh on Sept. 13, 2025, en route to Badhan district as part of a reconciliation delegation led by Sultan Abdisalan. He was alone in his vehicle, a Suzuki, when the strike hit in the Jicanyo area near Ceel Buh.

Investigators said Omar was an officially registered traditional leader with the Puntland State Ministry of Interior who was widely engaged in peacebuilding and community mobilization in Sanaag. The Criminal Investigation Department and other Puntland State security units verified he had no criminal or security record, the report states.

The committee presented missile fragments and photographs from the site, saying they identified the type of weapon used in the attack. DNA analysis confirmed that a single male died at the scene, consistent with witness accounts and other evidence.

The report says U.S. Africa Command acknowledged conducting the Sept. 13 airstrike in which Omar was killed. In a statement at the time, AFRICOM said the operation targeted an al-Shabaab weapons dealer and “did not injure or kill civilians,” but did not identify the person who died.

The committee’s findings contradict that characterization, concluding Omar was “a peaceful figure” devoted to community service with no links to al-Shabaab or other armed groups. The document portrays his killing as a grave error that cut short a peacemaking mission intended to defuse tensions between two local clans.

Residents and local officials in Ceel Buh say the time and location of the AFRICOM strike align with the attack that killed the elder. Community leaders have pressed for transparency, accountability and an independent investigation, arguing the lack of publicly confirmed identification from U.S. authorities has deepened mistrust.

Somalia has seen years of U.S. counterterrorism operations against al-Shabaab, and AFRICOM routinely says it takes precautions to avoid civilian harm. Civil society groups and local communities, however, have periodically challenged official assessments, urging fuller disclosure and on-the-ground verification when casualties are disputed.

In this case, the Puntland State report attempts to address lingering questions with forensic and testimonial evidence. Key findings include:

• Omar’s travel to Badhan on Sept. 13 as part of a formal peace delegation.
• His status as a registered traditional leader with the Puntland State Interior Ministry.
• Verification by the CID and other units that he had no criminal or security record.
• Witness accounts that he was alone in his Suzuki when the strike hit near Ceel Buh.
• Recovery of missile fragments and photos identifying the weapon type used.
• DNA confirmation that only one male died at the site.

The committee’s report is the most detailed public accounting to date of the elder’s death. It urges recognition of Omar’s role as a mediator and calls for steps to prevent similar incidents, while residents of Ceel Buh continue to demand an outside inquiry and a formal acknowledgment of responsibility.

Neither Puntland State officials nor AFRICOM immediately released further comment as the report circulated among local leaders and families in the Sanaag region.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.