Former Somali intelligence chief Fahad Yasin warns that the alleged Doolow drone strike could have far-reaching political and security consequences for Somalia and neighbouring countries.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Somali Report) — Former Somali intelligence chief Fahad Yasin has warned that a drone attack on the home of a senior military officer in the southwestern town of Doolow could have far-reaching political and security consequences extending beyond Somalia's borders.
Yasin, who previously headed Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), compared the incident to a 2006 bombing that targeted former Somali president Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, arguing that both events could have long-lasting consequences for the country's political and security landscape.
"The car bombing that targeted President Abdullahi Yusuf led to changes that had a major impact on the country over the past 20 years," Yasin said.
Referring to the Doolow incident, he warned that the alleged drone attack on the residence of General Mahad Abdirahman could trigger consequences that would spread across Somalia and potentially affect neighbouring countries.
"The drone that attacked the home of Commander Mahad Abdirahman in Doolow will result in dangerous consequences that could spread throughout the country and into neighbouring states," he said.
Yasin also launched a direct attack on the government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accusing the administration of crossing boundaries that he said were essential to maintaining Somalia's national security system.
"The Hassan Sheikh administration has crossed every boundary, and it is imperative to return to the entire national security framework," he said, without elaborating on what specific measures he believed were necessary.
His comments add to mounting political controversy surrounding the incident in Doolow, in the Gedo region, where an explosion struck the residence of Mahad Abdirahman, a former commander of Somalia's Custodial Corps.
Several political figures and opposition groups have alleged that the residence was deliberately targeted in a drone strike, with some accusing the federal government of involvement.
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The allegations have not been independently verified.
The federal government has categorically denied involvement in the Doolow incident and said preliminary information collected by security agencies suggested that the explosions may have resulted from explosive materials being prepared inside the house.
Officials stressed that an investigation into the circumstances of the incident was not yet complete.
The government has said it plans to appoint a fact-finding committee to conduct an independent investigation into the cause of the explosions, their intended purpose and those responsible.
The competing accounts have intensified calls for an independent inquiry, as political tensions rise between the federal government and several opposition figures.
The incident has also raised questions over the alleged use of drones and other military capabilities in Somalia's increasingly bitter political disputes.
Yasin's warning that the fallout could extend beyond Somalia reflects broader concerns about instability in the Horn of Africa, where political tensions, armed conflicts and militant activity frequently have consequences across national borders.
For now, however, the precise circumstances surrounding the Doolow explosion remain unclear, and no independent investigation has publicly established who was responsible.
The outcome of the proposed inquiry could prove critical in determining whether the incident further escalates Somalia's already fraught political crisis.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
