elder

Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 GAROWE, Somalia — A Puntland State-appointed committee investigating the death of traditional elder Omar Abdillahi Abdi concluded that he was the sole casualty of a U.S. airstrike near Ceel Buh on Sept. 13, contradicting U.S. Africa Command’s assertion that the operation did not harm civilians. The committee’s report, compiled from Puntland State security agencies and witness testimonies, said Omar — widely known as Chief Omar — left Ceel Buh in the Sanaag region on Sept. 13 bound for Badhan district…

Puntland State inquiry 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…

Somalia airstrike controversy tests U.S. credibility — and a community’s trust On a baked stretch of road outside Ceel Buh, in Somalia’s Sanaag region, a car carrying a well-known clan elder was torn apart by an airstrike on a September afternoon. The U.S. military later said it had targeted an al-Shabab arms dealer in northern Somalia. Local authorities have a starkly different account: the man killed was a peacemaker, a bridge-builder, and their friend. In a place where the title “Caaqil” carries the weight of lineage…

Voices from the Capital: A Clash Over Free Speech and Political Power The bustling avenues of Mogadishu tell tales of resilience, struggle, and now, a spotlight on the evolving discourse of power and free expression in Somalia. The Somali Salvation Council, a coalition shaped by former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, has brought forth a boiling issue in the Somali capital: the arrest of Hussein Mohamed Mahmoud Haadoole. A Controversial Arrest Earlier this week, Mogadishu's dynamic rhythm was cut by an event that has…

Kismayo (AX) — In a significant turn of events, a military tribunal in Jubaland on Monday handed clan elder Hassan Mahamud Salah a five-year prison sentence, finding him guilty of conspiring with the militant faction Al-Shabaab. The case highlights the ongoing struggle against terrorism in the region. Presiding over the case, Colonel Abdullahi Mahamud Ibrahim pronounced the verdict, articulating the court's unwavering position on affiliations with Al-Shabaab. "This is a cautionary tale for those who dare to aid terrorist…

Baidoa (AX) — On a somber Saturday night in Baidoa, the heart of Somalia's Bay region, a respected elder and peacemaker, Yaqub Hassan Haji, met a tragic end at the hands of gunmen brandishing pistols.The crime unfolded in the Bardale area, and the culprits made their escape before law enforcement could intervene.In response, local authorities sprang into action, detaining several suspects connected to the heinous act. Despite these efforts, no group has stepped forward to shoulder the blame.The elder’s grieving family has…

Somali Elder Returns Fuel Taken During 1991 Government Collapse Mogadishu (AX) — A Somali elder, Mumin Fidow Rooble, now in his late seventies, restored 50 liters of fuel to local officials. During the 1991 downfall of Somalia's central authority, he had taken the fuel. Residing today in the Mahas district of the Hiiraan region, Mumin said he turned to religious guidance before rectifying his past actions. In the chaotic overthrow of Mohamed Siad Barre's regime, Mumin acquired the gasoline from the Afisyooni military…

Chad pays tribute to President Idriss Déby last Friday. The head of state died earlier this week from his injuries after participating in the fight against rebels in the northern part of the country. A national funeral is being held in the Chadian capital where many officials are expected. The deadly remains must then be flown to Amdjarass, a town near his hometown of Berdoba near the Sudanese border. Idriss Deby will be buried there in an intimate family. A day that RFI invites you to experience live. .