Monday September 22, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — A Somali government soldier shot and killed a civilian driver at a checkpoint in Mogadishu’s Karaan district on Monday, witnesses said, in an incident that has fueled anger over alleged extortion and abuse by security forces.
The victim, identified as Arab Ali, was driving a minibus when the soldier demanded extra money. Witnesses said the dispute escalated quickly before the soldier opened fire, killing Ali at the scene.
The assailant fled immediately after the shooting. Security forces later sealed off the area and launched a manhunt, though officials have not confirmed whether he has been arrested.
Ali, who worked transporting passengers between Mogadishu and central Somalia, is the latest driver to be killed in confrontations at military checkpoints. Transport workers have long accused soldiers in federal uniforms of extortion, harassment, and, in some cases, beatings or shootings.
Security officials have not commented on the incident, which has renewed public scrutiny of Somalia’s security sector and the lack of accountability for abuses committed by armed personnel.