In Defiance of US Claims, Family of Somali Elder killed in US strike in Somalia Build a Memorial

by: Horn Observer Contributor | 06 October 2025 22:14

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In Defiance of US Claims, Family of Somali Elder killed in US strike in Somalia Build a Memorial

ELBUH, Somalia (Horn Observer) — The family of a Somali clan elder killed in a U.S. airstrike last month has built a memorial, rejecting claims he was an al-Shabab operative.

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Family members erect a memorial where Somali elder was hit by US Strike. Photo: Horn Observer

ELBUH, Somalia (Horn Observer) — The family of a Somali clan elder killed in a U.S. airstrike last month has built a memorial, rejecting claims he was an al-Shabab operative.

Omar Abdillahi Abdi was killed on September 13 when three missiles struck his vehicle in the Ji’anyo area between Elbuh and Badhan, in Somalia's Sanaag region.

He was travelling alone when the attack hit, leaving the community in shock. "It was sudden, merciless — he was gone in seconds,” said a local witness.

The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) claimed Abdi was a "weapons dealer for al-Shabab,” but his family and the militant group itself both denied the accusation.

At a press conference in Elbuh, Abdi’s elder brother, Ali Abdullahi Abdi, said, "Our brother was a respected elder, not a terrorist. The U.S. killed an innocent man without proof or remorse.”

He described his brother as a peacemaker who mediated clan disputes. "He preached peace, not war. Now his blood stains our soil,” he said.

The family has built a small memorial at the exact spot where his car was destroyed — featuring his photo with images of the U.S. drone and his wrecked vehicle displayed on either side.

"We come here to remember him and to pray,” he said. "They thought they silenced one man, but they awakened an entire community.”

"We want justice,” said Abdi’s wife. "We want the world to know that our pain was caused by a drone, not by fate.”

The site of the explosion has become a place of mourning, with residents gathering to pray for Abdi’s peaceful rest.

Many question how AFRICOM obtained the intelligence to carry out the raid, as such attacks usually rely on information from Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) and Puntland authorities.

Since NISA does not operate in the region and Puntland played no role, questions arise about who provided AFRICOM with the intelligence to target a respected elder.

Critics ask who authorized the airstrike, given that Abdi was unarmed, had no bodyguards, and could have been arrested easily if truly a terrorist or criminal.

Civilian deaths and injuries from US airstrikes in Somalia have gone uninvestigated and uncompensated, causing lasting grief for families such as Abdi’s.

Rights groups have repeatedly urged Washington to ensure accountability. "Somali lives matter,” said a local activist. "Every death deserves truth — and justice.”