Mastermind behind Somalia President assassination attempt killed in airstrike
Somalia National Intelligence and Security Agency announced that Mohamed Abdi Dhilbaawa Afrax, a senior al-Shabaab was killed on Tuesday in the Lower Shabelle region.
The Somalia National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) has confirmed that a militant believed to have masterminded an assassination attempt on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud earlier this year has been killed in a targeted airstrike.
The attack in March had heightened concerns about the insurgents' reach and the persistent challenges facing Somalia’s security apparatus, underscoring al-Shabaab’s ability to strike at the highest levels of Somali leadership.
NISA announced that Mohamed Abdi Dhilbaawa Afrax, a senior al-Shabaab commander also known by several aliases including Khalid Dheere, Khalid Dacas, Macallin Siciid, Timo-jilac, and Mohamed Sahal, was killed on Tuesday in the Lower Shabelle region.
According to the agency, Afrax was eliminated in a joint operation with international partners while travelling in a Noah vehicle alongside another militant, when their car was struck.
Detectives identified him as the architect of the March 18 attack in Ceel Gaabta, in which explosives were detonated in an attempt to ram the presidential motorcade heading towards Adan Abdulle International Airport.
President Mohamud survived the attempt unharmed. Somali authorities said the assault was carefully planned with the intent of assassinating the head of state.
Al-Shabaab, which seeks to topple the internationally recognised Somali government, has waged an insurgency against successive regimes and African Union peacekeepers for more than 15 years.
According to NISA, Afrax had a long history of coordinating deadly bombings and armed assaults, many of which killed civilians. His elimination, the agency said, represents “a significant blow” to the group’s leadership structure.
The attempt on the president was one of the most serious in recent years, highlighting the volatile security climate in Somalia even as government forces, backed by international partners, continue their campaign to weaken the militants.
“NISA will release further details regarding the operation and the activities of this commander,” the agency added.
