1.6.3. Military personnel, including army officials, FMS forces, clan elders and militia members

For specific background information on the rationale and the reasons behind the targeting of military and police personnel, at federal and state level, as well as clan elders and militias members, please see the EUAA COI Report Somalia: Targeted profiles (September 2021).601

High-ranking military and police personnel. These profiles have been targeted – outside of the conflict – on various occasions during the reference period, including:

• on 14 July 2023, a suicide bomber targeted a residential neighbourhood in Mogadishu’s Hodan district, targeting military officers and other government officials. At least eight individuals were killed, including colonel Abdikarin Ahmed Yusuf, known as Afar Shaagle, and military general Abdullahi Qaanso;602
• on 3 May 2024, Lieutenant Colonel Adan Omar Ahmed, known as ‘Biid’, was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen in Mogadishu near the Schola Polizia area in the heavily protected Xamarjajab district;603
• on 13 June 2024, Al-Shabaab shot and killed prominent police officer and head of CID (Criminal Investigation Department ) in Mogadishu – Dharkenley, while off-duty.604

Military, police and security forces personnel. Soldiers, police officers, and security forces in general, including intelligence officials, have been targeted – outside of the conflict, while ‘assumed off-duty’ – on several occasions during the reference period. ACLED kept track of 21 of such events, with most instances taking place in South-Central Somalia - notably Mogadishu (Benadir), Bay, Bakool, Hiraan, Lower Juba and Lower Shabelle - and involving mostly shooting, but also IED and suicide bombers.605 Among other locations, Al-Shabaab targeted security officials, along with civilian by-standers, while they were frequenting teashops, restaurants, and mira/khat chewing or market points.606 Based on ACLED data during the reference period, ‘teashops’ were the location for this type of targeting in 21 cases across South-Central Somalia, resulting in 48 fatalities, including civilians, and a non-specified number of casualties.607 ‘Restaurants’ were the location for this type of targeting, notably in Benadir, in 16 occasions resulting in 73 fatalities, including civilians, and a non-specified number of casualties.608 Khat/mira ‘chewing’ or ‘market points’ were the location of such events, notably in South-Central Somalia, in 22 occasions, resulting in 26 fatalities and a non-specified number of casualties.609

Some illustrative examples include:610

• attacks in teashops, cafés, restaurants, and mira/khat chewing points: on 13 July 2023, an IED planted by Al-Shabaab targeted government security forces (SNA) while resting and chewing khat/mira in Qalimow near Balcad (Middle Shabelle);611 on 23 January 2024, Puntland police officers – ‘assumed off duty’ - at a tea kiosk/khat chewing point in Tuurta area in Bosaso town were targeted by Al-Shabaab with an IED, resulting in the death of three police men and the injury of 10 others, including 2 civilians;612 on 17 August 2024, Al-Shabaab targeted a tea shop frequented by soldiers in Mogadishu, Daynile district (Benadir). Eight people, including two off-duty soldiers and the owner were killed, while six civilian bystanders were injured;613 on 31 August 2024, at least three civilians were killed and 13 others injured, in a IED attack on a teashop in Bulo Burte where locals, Bulo Burte security forces and Macawisley clan militia tend to congregate;614 on 17 October 2024, seven people died and six others were injured, both officers and civilians, after a suicide bomber detonated at a café outside a police training school in Mogadishu (Benadir);615 on 2 December 2024, in a public restaurant in Afgooye (Lower Shabelle), where SNA soldiers often gather for coffee, an IED likely planted by Al-Shabaab killed a SNA soldier among other casualties and fatalities;616 on 9 February 2025, Al-Shabaab targeted SNA soldiers off-duty with a planted IED in a teashop in Belet Weyne (Hiraan);617
• attacks on mira/khat markets: on 9 September 2024, an IED planted by Al-Shabaab at the local mira/khat market in Hudur town (Bakool), injured five soldiers.618

On other occasions, Al-Shabaab has resorted to targeted killing, by shooting, of security forces while off-duty, such as: on 17 July 2023, of a municipal police officer in front of his home in Mogadishu, Wadajir district (Benadir);619 on 2 September 2023, of a Jubaland intelligence soldier in Bilis Qooqaani near Afmadow (Lower Juba);620 on 27 March 2024, of a government soldier (SNA) - assumed off duty - on his way home in Mogadishu - Wadajir (Banadir).621

Clan elders. Clan elders were targeted by Al-Shabaab on various occasions in the reference period for supporting the government and its military operations, for mobilising militias against the group, or for unspecified reasons. In most cases they were shot and killed, in others either attacked with explosive or abducted. ACLED kept track of at least 8 of such events, with most instances taking place in south-central Somalia, notably Mogadishu, Hiraan, Bay, and Lower Juba. These events resulted in at least 11 clan elders killed,622 and another unspecified number (more than 8) abducted,623 including those murdered on occasion of the Qahira hotel attack in Beletweyne (Hiraan) on 11 March 2025.624 Additionally, overall more than 25 clan elders were abducted in relation to tax collection.625 For further details see 1.10 Individuals who have to pay ‘taxes’ to Al-Shabaab or other groups and militias. On the targeting of clan elders as electoral delegates, see section above 1.6.2.

Clan and clan militia members. These profiles, when actively opposing Al-Shabaab, were targeted – outside the conflict – on various occasions during the reference period. Among others, ACLED kept truck of following events:626

• Targeted killing, by shooting, of clan militia members and leaders: on 17 May 2023, of an Abgal clan militia member - off duty - in the Obasiiba area in Mogadishu - Wadajir (Banadir) who had been active in Middle Shabelle;627 on 23 May 2023, of a businessman from Abgal in Mogadishu - Dharkenley (Banadir), claiming that the victim was organising clan militia in Middle Shabelle;628 on 10 December 2023, Al-Shabaab shot and killed four civilians from Abgal Wacaysle clan in Oodley village near Ceel Dheer (Galgaduud) and abducted another two;629 on 18 December 2023, Al-Shabaab killed a civilian from Abgal clan in Mogadishu - Dharkenley (Banadir), accusing the victim of mobilising clan militias in Middle Shabelle region;630 on 27 March 2024, Al-Shabaab targeted an Abgal clan militia leader in the vicinity of Daaru Nicma village, near Adan Yabaal (Middle Shabelle);631 on 26 March 2024, Al-Shabaab killed a civilian from Baadiade clan in Shaw village (Jalalaqsi, Hiraan);632 on 24 June 2024, Al-Shabaab killed a civilian in Ceel Buur (Galgaduud), a member of Habar Gedir clan militia;633 on 29 October 2023 and on 2 January 2024, Al-Shabaab targeted with hand-granades respectively a teashop and a meeting point frequented by Makane clan militia in Belet Weyne (Hiiraan);634 on 18 March 2025, overnight, Al-Shabaab shot the leader of the Makane clan militia at Budoweyne neighbourhood in Belet Weyne (Hiraan).635