Hiiraan Online
Monday, November 16, 2015
MOGADISHU (HOL) – Somali police are investigating the ‘cold blood’ murder of a United Nations officials in the central Somali town of Beledweyne on Saturday as two soldiers were arretsed in connections with the murder, security minister said Monday.
Mahdi Hussein Shekhal, a field officer with the United Nations’ Mine Action Service (UNMAS) was killed after armed troops opened fire at his car in Hawatako locality in the town. Elders in the town called the killing as a ‘murder-for-hire and accused the region’s governor Abdifitah Hassan Afrax who allegedly had personal conflict with the late officer plotted his killing.
Mr. Afrah has however denied the charges implicating him into the murder.
Somalia’s security minister Abdirizak Omar told reporters that the government has assigned a special task force to investigate the murder which prompted an outrage as militiamen have blocked roads and closed businesses, demanding the town’s administration to hand over the murderers.
“The petpetrators are in jail now – one of the governor’s bodyguards had killed Mr. Mahdi.” Mr. Omar said, urging local elders to avoid instilling tension and tribal conflicts.
The governor hasn’t so far commented on the killing which sent shockwaves across the region.
The development has raised fears of tribal fighting divisions in the region which has long enjoyed diverse clans’ peaceful co-existence and administrational power sharing.