Mogadishu’s Police Commissioner, Farhan Mohamoud Adan – also known as Farhan Qarole – was killed on Friday in a roadside bomb attack near Bal’ad district, 35 km (21 miles) north of the Somalia’s capital. Mr Adan was in a police convoy when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb that the militant group, al-Shabab, allegedly planted before they withdrew from the strategic village of Basra that connects the Lower and Middle Shabelle regions.
Farhan Qarole was an ex-commander of the Somali special police force, Haramacad, before he took over as a chief of Banadir regional police force, which is the provincial region of greater Mogadishu.
The police chief had in the past survived two attempted assassinations whilst in post, in July 2021 and in May 2022.
This latest attack comes as earlier this month local clan militia in Hiran region, known as Ma’awiley, took up arms against al-Shabab with the support of Somalia’s government and the army. They have been successful in taking control of Hiran region.
Al-shabab controlled large swathe of south and central Somalia but since this latest joint offensive, the group has lost ground never seen before since its exit from Mogadishu.
Earlier this morning, Somalia’s Defence Minister, Abdikadir Mohamed Nur, told state media that the army – with the support of locals – have taken nine towns in Lower Shabelle including Basra.
So far no one has claimed responsibility for the attack against the commander.