‘Grave Mistake’: U.S. Strike Kills Esteemed Elder in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A U.S. drone strike in Somalia has left a community grieving and demanding answers after a revered clan elder was killed in what local officials describe as a grave mistake that could deepen mistrust in America's counterterrorism campaign.

The U.S. strike on September 13 in Sanaag region killed Caaqil Omar Abdullahi Abdi, a respected elder known for mediating clan disputes and promoting peace. U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said it had targeted a weapons trafficker linked to al-Shabab group.

But the militant group itself, along with regional officials and Omar’s family, insist the accusation is false and that he was wrongly targeted.

“He was not a terrorist. He was a man of peace. And now, he is gone — killed without cause,” said Gen. Abdullahi Omar Anshur.

The elder was traveling alone near Ji’anyo from Elbuh to Badhan when the strike hit. The time and location align precisely with AFRICOM’s statement, leaving little doubt about who was targeted.

“If he had done anything wrong, we’d have acted. This wasn’t an accident. It was unjust,” said Gen. Canshuur, calling the killing a betrayal of trust.

Omar’s brother, Ali Abdullahi Abdi, described him as a lifelong peacemaker. “He preached peace, not war. Now his blood stains our soil,” he said.

Widespread protests erupted across Sanaag. Community leaders held emergency meetings, warning that the strike could unravel hard-won local efforts to resist al-Shabab and maintain stability.

“We are devastated,” his brother added. “He had no terrorist links. We demand to know who authorized this and why it happened.”

The family has built a small memorial at the site where his car was destroyed, featuring Omar’s photograph beside images of the drone and his wrecked vehicle.

“We come here to remember him and to pray,” his brother said. “They thought they silenced one man, but they awakened an entire community.”

“We want justice,” said his wife, Saido Ali Abdinur. “We want the world to know that our pain was caused by a drone, not by fate.”

The blast site has become a place of mourning. Dozens gather daily to pray for the elder’s peaceful rest and to demand accountability from those responsible.

AFRICOM frequently announces strikes targeting al-Shabab, but rarely provides names or evidence. Critics say such actions often rely on flawed intelligence and cause preventable civilian deaths.

Many now question how AFRICOM obtained intelligence for this raid. Somalia’s intelligence agency has no operations in the region, and Puntland authorities deny involvement in any targeting.

“If he truly posed a threat, why not arrest him? He was unarmed and alone,” said a local security official. “That’s not how you treat an ally.”

Civilian casualties from U.S. airstrikes in Somalia often go unacknowledged and uncompensated, creating long-term anger and grief among affected communities like Omar’s.

Rights groups continue to demand transparency. “Somali lives matter,” said a local activist. “Every death deserves truth — and justice.”

As one of the last respected elders of his generation, Caaqil Omar’s death leaves a leadership vacuum — and a growing call for answers Washington has yet to provide.