Suspect flees Somalia following assassination of air traffic controller in Mogadishu

by: Horn Observer Contributor | 22 April 2024 23:39

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Suspect flees Somalia following assassination of air traffic controller in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) - One of the suspects involved in the assassination of Abdinasir Muse Abdi Dahable, a young air traffic controller educated in the UK who was killed in Mogadishu in February, has reportedly left the country.

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(LEFT) Abdinasir Muse Abdi Dahable (victim), and (RIGHT) Mahad Mohamed Salad, former director of Somali spy agency suspected to have authorised the murder of Abdinasir.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) - One of the suspects involved in the assassination of Abdinasir Muse Abdi Dahable, a young air traffic controller educated in the UK who was killed in Mogadishu in February, has reportedly left the country.

A confidential intelligence source revealed that Hassan Dahir, a mid-ranking officer of the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), allegedly fled from Mogadishu to Nairobi, Kenya, with the assistance of relatives in Kenya.

Dahir, from Habargidir/Hawiye clan, was considered a key suspect in the murder plot that resulted in Dahable's death.

Originally from Gabiley, Somaliland, the 32-year-old air traffic employee Abdinasir Dahable, hailing from Isaaq clan, had received training and employment from the UN International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) before joining the Somali civil aviation sector in 2018.

He had recently completed his master's education in the UK before returning to Mogadishu.

The body of Abdinasir Dahable was discovered by Mogadishu police on Sunday, February 18th, 2024 showing signs of strangulation.

A doctor in Hargeisa, who conducted the autopsy, reported that Dahable had been brutally tortured, with injuries including fractured left eye and testicles. Dahable was laid to rest in Gebiley in a funeral attended by Somaliland government officials on February 25th.

Hassan Dahir is believed to be one of two officers who participated in the operation under the alleged orders of their superior, Mr. Mahad Mohamed Salad.

Mr. Salad, who formerly served as the director of NISA, is also a relative of Hassan Dahir.

Mr. Salad was fired following a cabinet of the ministers decree on April 4th.

Sources in Mogadishu have confirmed that Mr. Salad has traveled to Egypt, where he has relocated his family out of fear of potential investigation into his alleged involvement in Abdinasir Dahable's murder.

These sources also suggest that Mr. Salad may be planning to travel to the U.S., reportedly invited by clan members in Minnesota.

In Somalia, investigations into war crimes and human rights abuses involving high-ranking officials often go unaddressed, leaving victims in despair.

Since Dahable's killing, several others from the same community, including a former lawmaker, have been assassinated in Mogadishu.

Under Mahad Salad's leadership, NISA has reportedly increased raids, arbitrary and secret detentions, as well as instances of killing, maiming, and sexual violence, primarily targeting minority communities and individuals from less protected or unarmed families.

In March 2023, Human Rights Watch raised concerns after the Somali president signed a National Security and Intelligence Agency (NISA) bill into law, granting sweeping powers of arrest, detention, and surveillance to the agency with minimal independent oversight.

Journalists and civil society members critical of the government have also been subjected to detention, torture, and other abuses.