MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s military court on Monday executed two soldiers found guilty of assassinating their battalion commander on behalf of the Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab.
The soldiers, Mohamed Hussein Bule and Adan Isaq Yarow, were convicted of planting an explosive device under the bed of Major Aydid Mohamed Ali, commander of the Somali National Army’s 83rd battalion. The device detonated on 15 July, killing Maj Ali instantly.
According to the military court, the pair admitted to collaborating with Al-Shabaab in exchange for money. They also reportedly supplied the group – affiliated with Al-Qaeda – with sensitive intelligence about the 14 October Brigade, and on several occasions deliberately led their unit into ambushes.
The executions were carried out on Monday in the presence of senior army officials. Addressing troops at the site, Somalia’s Army Chief, General Odowa Yusuf Rage, warned that any soldier found guilty of treason would face the same punishment, regardless of rank or position.
“These acts of betrayal undermine our fight against terrorism and will not be tolerated,” he said.
The incident is part of a disturbing pattern of infiltrator attacks by Al-Shabaab within the ranks of Somalia’s security forces. Several army commanders have been targeted in recent months, and investigations into other similar killings remain ongoing.
Al-Shabaab has waged a long-running insurgency against Somalia’s internationally-backed government and frequently targets military personnel in its efforts to weaken the Somali security forces.
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