Mogadishu (Kaab TV) — Tragic news has emerged from the Dharkenley District in the Banadir Region, where a high-ranking officer of the Somali National Army (SNA), Colonel Macalin Omar Ali, was shot and killed on the evening of Sunday, October 12, 2025.
Colonel Omar, aged 62, was fatally attacked in the Sa’id Rooraye neighborhood, located in the third section of Dharkenley district. According to initial reports from local sources and eyewitnesses, the colonel was gunned down by two unidentified assailants.
The attackers, believed to be armed, ambushed the officer in front of his residence before swiftly fleeing the scene on foot, leaving behind a shaken community.
Residents reported hearing multiple gunshots around 8:30 p.m., prompting fear and confusion among the neighborhood’s inhabitants.
One witness, who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons, described the incident as “sudden and terrifying,” stating that many residents initially mistook the shots for celebratory gunfire before realizing the severity of the situation.
Security forces arrived at the scene shortly after the incident was reported, but no arrests have been made as of this report. Authorities have launched an investigation into the assassination, though the motive and perpetrators remain unknown. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Colonel Macalin Omar Ali was a respected figure within the Somali military establishment. Although officially retired, he continued to play a strategic advisory role within military circles, often providing insight and mentorship to younger officers.
His decades of experience and commitment to national defense earned him high regard among both his peers and the wider Somali public.
In the wake of the killing, military colleagues and community leaders have expressed their condolences and called for justice. “He was not just a soldier—he was a patriot and a symbol of stability in this community,” said one local elder.
This latest act of targeted violence highlights the ongoing security challenges in Mogadishu and underscores the persistent threats faced by both active and retired members of the Somali security forces.
Authorities have pledged to intensify their efforts to bring those responsible to justice and prevent further attacks.
The Somali government has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.