Somali air traffic employee found dead in his apartment, family says he received threats

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Somali air traffic employee found dead in his apartment, family says he received threats

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) - Abdinasir Muse Abdi, known as Dahable, an employee of the Somali Civil Aviation, was discovered dead in his apartment in Mogadishu's Wadajir district on Sunday.

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Abdinasir Muse Abdi, a Somali air traffic controller was found dead in his apartment in Mogadishu on Sunday.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) - Abdinasir Muse Abdi, known as Dahable, an employee of the Somali Civil Aviation, was discovered dead in his apartment in Mogadishu's Wadajir district on Sunday.

The Somali police confirmed the grim discovery, stating that Abdinasir's body showed signs of strangulation, with a wire cable still wrapped around his neck.

Police in Mogadishu said they have arrested at least six individuals in connection with the killing, although their identities remain undisclosed.

Somali police officers were observed at the scene where Abdinasir's body was found, intensifying efforts to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death.

Originally from Gabiley, Somaliland, the 32-year-old air traffic scholar had been trained and employed by the UN International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) before joining Somali civil aviation in 2018.

Abdinasir, a Chevening scholar, had recently returned to Somalia in December 2023 after completing his master's degree studies in the UK.

Concerns over Abdinasir's safety had escalated in recent times, with reports of threats from the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) amid tensions between Somalia and Somaliland over air traffic management.

Colleagues revealed that Abdinasir's advocacy for non-political air traffic management had drawn suspicion from Somali authorities, who speculated about his collaboration with Somaliland.

Somaliland's air traffic management has been accused of interference by Somalia, leading to complaints to ICAO. Abdinasir's family disclosed that he had been warned by a NISA agent just days before his death, claiming that the director of NISA had ordered his "death."

Omar Sayid Abdullahi, the manager of Somaliland Civil Aviation, highlighted ongoing threats faced by air traffic controllers in Hargeisa, emphasizing the need for enhanced safety and security measures.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Kahin, Somaliland's Minister of Interior, demanded that Mogadishu authorities permit Abdinasir's body to be transported to Hargeisa for burial, along with a comprehensive report on the circumstances of his death.

In response, Salah Jama, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Somali Federal Government, condemned the killing as brutal and authorized government agencies to expedite the investigation to apprehend the perpetrators.

"I urge the security agencies to speed up this case and bring to justice whoever is behind this heinous act," Jama asserted.