JOWHAR, Somalia – A regional minister was assassinated by unknown assailants in Somalia on Thursday night, senior officials confirmed in the latest wave of violence targeting security forces and state officials, usually constructed by the infamous Al-Shabaab militants.
Nur Hashi Abdulle was killed on the spot by unknown assailants as he left the mosque in Jowhar, the regional administrative capital of the state of HirShabelle, in what analysts condemned as security lapses, which could further raise questions among stakeholders.
Until his death, Nur Hashi Abdulle served as Minister of Gifted and Religious Affairs and also doubled as a Member of the HirShabelle Regional Parliament. His death was received with shock and protest from hundreds of his supporters in the state.
Mohamed Abdi Waare, the regional president, condemned the minister’s death and called for an immediate investigation. The assailants, he added, were to be arrested and prosecuted regardless of their race, religion and political affiliation.
“We are really concerned about this wave of violence against our people. It is one of those incidents that must be condemned,” he said in a statement, adding that: “We must ensure that those behind the act are arrested and prosecuted during the minutes. “
So far, no group has yet taken responsibility for the attack, but Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militants are known to target such officers. For the past 13 years, the group has tried to overthrow the weak UN-backed Somalia government in addition to pushing for the introduction of strict sharia laws that are against Islam.
Waare added: “We must ensure that our society is protected from these heartless criminals who do not have an ideology that is in line with our ideals. It is important that our security forces also ensure that they are locked out of our state.”
Nur Hashi Abdulle is not the first prime minister to be killed in controversial circumstances. Last year, the regional prime minister of agriculture, who was also doubled as a Member of Parliament, an Abdulkadir Abukar, was also shot in Jowhar, located 90 km north of Mogadishu, the country’s capital.
AXADLETM
