A high-ranking officer in the Somali National Army (SNA) was killed on Saturday after a disgruntled soldier opened fire inside a military outpost in Galgaduud, central Somalia, security sources have confirmed.
The Story of Killing a Senior Commander in Galgaduud
The incident occurred at El-Lahelay base, on the outskirts of Guriel town.
Witnesses say the assailant fired multiple rounds at close range, instantly killing Brig. Gen. Mohamed Tahlil Bihi, commander of the 10th Brigade.
The shooter was immediately disarmed and taken into custody; an investigation is under way to determine motive and any possible links to militant group al-Shabaab.
Strategic fallout
Brig. Gen. Bihi had led recent offensives that cleared several villages of al-Shabaab fighters along the Galgaduud-Mudug corridor.
His death delivers a blow to ongoing Phase-II operations aimed at flushing extremists from central Somalia.
Ministry of Defence Condemns the Killing of a Senior Commander in Galgaduud
The Ministry of Defence condemned the “cowardly act” and promised swift justice.
While senior SNA officers have ordered tighter vetting and mental-health checks within army ranks to prevent future insider attacks.
Insider killings undermine troop morale and can hamper coordination with African Union forces at a critical juncture: federal troops are expected to assume full security responsibility as AU withdrawal deadlines approach.
Somalia’s push against al-Shabaab now faces another hurdle—bolstering internal discipline—after the battlefield loss of one of its most effective field commanders.
