Residents in Kismayo staged a protest against Turkey following allegations that Turkish military aircraft were involved in an attack targeting the residence of former Somali Custodial Corps commander Gen. Mahad Abdirahman Aden, widely known as Commander Shub, in the town of Doolow.
The demonstrators expressed anger over the incident, saying they were concerned by claims that a foreign country may have become involved in Somalia’s internal political and security affairs.
Protesters carried banners and chanted slogans condemning the alleged attack while calling for accountability and transparency.
The incident in Doolow occurred on the night of September 3–4, when explosions struck the residence of Gen. Mahad.
Reports indicated that the former prison commander sustained minor injuries in the attack, while conflicting accounts emerged regarding the number of casualties and the nature of the strike.
Jubaland authorities have accused Turkish aircraft or drones of carrying out the attack, describing it as an act of foreign interference in Somalia’s domestic affairs.
The administration has demanded an investigation and called for greater scrutiny of foreign military involvement in the country.
The protest in Kismayo comes amid escalating political tensions between the Federal Government of Somalia and the Jubaland administration.
The Doolow incident has further intensified debate over the role of foreign partners in Somalia’s security sector and the broader political dispute between Mogadishu and regional authorities.
Participants in the demonstration urged both the Turkish government and the Federal Government of Somalia to clarify what happened in Doolow and identify those responsible for the attack. They also called for the protection of Somalia’s sovereignty and security.
So far, there has been no independent confirmation that Turkey carried out the strike, and competing claims continue to circulate regarding the circumstances of the incident.
Turkish authorities have not publicly responded to the allegations, while Somali federal officials have disputed accusations that the attack was an airstrike.
As investigations and political reactions continue, the Doolow incident remains a source of controversy, fueling public anger in parts of Jubaland and adding a new dimension to Somalia’s ongoing political tensions.
