​Somalia: Prominent elder killed in the capital Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia- Unknown assailants were reported to have killed a prominent elder in the capital Mogadishu on Thursday, the latest in string of assassinations, Garowe Online reports.

Sources tell GO that 3 men with pistols have shot dead Sayd Ali Osman Abtidoon in Baraka neighborhood in Hodan district today’s evening. However, the assailants escaped the scene before the arrival of the Police authority.

Late Abtidoon was among the electoral college who elected members of the current Somalia's Federal Parliament from the regional administration of Galmudug state in December 2016.

After the shooting, Somali security officers have reached the scene, and cordoned it off for investigation, but no suspect was arrested for the murder, according to an eyewitness.

No group has claimed responsibility for the murder of the elder, but the militant group al-Shabaab has threatened earlier electoral delegate who participated in the electoral process that they will be targeted by their fighters. 

This comes after Somalia’s council of ministers have today announced plan to form joint task forces to stabilize the capital in the coming months. The joint forces will be drawn from the Police forces, army and intelligence agency.

GAROWEONLINE