Third soldier arrested in shooting death of Somali minister

Hiiraan Online
Friday May 5, 2017

Mogadishu (HOL) - A third soldier has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a senior government minister in Somalia, according to police.

Police have arrested Abass Siraji’s bodyguard as a part of their investigation. Two other soldiers who were escorting the auditor general Nur Farah are already in custody.

Police spokesman Qaasim Ahmed confirmed the arrests.

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Minister of Public Works and Reconstruction, Abbas Abdullahi Siraji - the youngest minister in the Somali cabinet - was shot dead Wednesday evening by Somali government soldiers who were escorting the Auditor General, Nur Farah. The soldiers began firing at Mr. Siraji as his car approached the checkpoint leading to the compound.

The death was a result of mistaken identity. Auditor General, Nur Jimale Farah, apparently mistook the minister, who was driving himself in an unmarked civilian vehicle, for an assailant.

Somalia's prime minister on Thursday fired the auditor general over the shooting incident, to which he quickly rebuffed saying that the prime minister did not have the constitutional authority to relieve him of his duties.

The late minister made headlines earlier this year with his inspiring story that saw him go from the largest refugee camp in the world, Dadaab, to being appointed the youngest federal government minister in Somalia’s history.

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