Colonel Nur Farey, commander of the Somali National Army’s 14th October Brigade, was reportedly killed on Saturday in the Addow Dibille area near Afgooye town.
According to sources, he was addressing soldiers when an individual in military uniform approached, shouted repeatedly, and then opened fire, fatally wounding him.
An investigation is underway to determine if the assailant was an Al-Shabaab infiltrator.
Colonel Farey had been leading mobilization efforts aimed at recapturing Awdhegle town from Al-Shabaab.
The 14th October Brigade was established to honor the victims of the October 14, 2017, terrorist attack at Mogadishu’s K-5 junction, which resulted in over 1,000 casualties.
This incident underscores the ongoing security challenges in the Lower Shabelle region, where al-Shabaab remains active.
The group has a history of infiltrating security forces to carry out attacks, complicating efforts to stabilize the area.
The Somali National Army continues operations to reclaim territories under Al-Shabaab control, with varying degrees of success.