MOGADISHU, Somalia – A Somali man, reportedly a member of the Somali National Army (SNA), shot and killed a rickshaw operator in the capital’s Dayniile district on Sunday night, local sources confirmed.
The victim, identified as Abdirisaq Abuukar Mohamud, was shot in the Barwaqo area of Dayniile.
According to witnesses, the attacker, wearing a military uniform, fled the scene after the shooting, firing randomly while escaping.
Relatives of the deceased have expressed strong condemnation of the incident. A family member, Yusuf Absuge, revealed that the responsible soldier is known but has not been arrested yet.
One soldier who was reportedly accompanying the shooter has been taken into custody by authorities.
“The soldier, described as a coward, killed my brother Abdirisaq. He managed to escape, but we are determined that justice will prevail,” said Absuge in a statement to local media.
“We will not bury my brother until the killer is apprehended,” he added.
The tragedy holds additional significance for the family. Yusuf disclosed that Abdirisaq and his wife, Aa’isha Abdi, were preparing to move to the United States after winning a diversity visa lottery.
“They were ready to depart for the U.S., all they required was an interview in Bangkok, Thailand,” he explained.
The shooting has attracted public attention as it represents one of the few cases of government soldiers being involved in civilian deaths in Mogadishu.
The city has experienced a decline in such incidents recently due to enhanced security measures and calls for accountability.
Nevertheless, the killing of Abdirisaq has renewed concerns regarding excessive force by military personnel.
Authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident, but the family and local community continue to demand justice.
