Traditional and Religious Leaders in Eastern Regions Demand Answers from Puntland Over Airstrike Killing of Elder

BADHAN, SANAG – Traditional elders, intellectuals, and religious leaders from the Sanaag, Haylan, and the western parts of the Bari region have issued a formal and urgent demand to the Puntland government, seeking a transparent explanation for the deadly airstrike that killed a respected elder and the ongoing use of airstrikes that have terrorized local communities.

The demand, outlined in a strongly-worded statement, comes in the wake of the killing of Caqil (Chief) Cumar C/laahi Cabdi Ibraahim on September 13, 2025. According to the statement, the elder was traveling alone from the city of Ceelbuh to Badhan in the Sanaag region when his vehicle was struck by three missiles near the village of Jicanyo.

The leaders condemned the attack, describing the slain chief as “a stabilizing traditional elder” who was widely known for his work in promoting “security, peace, and reconciliation throughout the country and its people.” They emphasized that he was a key figure in peacebuilding and was not a legitimate target.

The statement poses four critical questions to the Puntland administration:

1. Identification of Perpetrators: They demand to know who authorized and carried out the airstrike using an aircraft and missiles, and who was complicit in the killing.
2. Motivation for the Attack: They question why a peace-promoting elder was specifically targeted in what they imply was an assassination.
3. Official Silence: They challenge the Puntland government’s continued silence on this “brutal killing” and the “large-scale attacks” that have been launched against the people and territories of Sanaag and Haylan.
4. Inaction on Previous Complaints: They ask why the government has ignored their weeks-long pleas and complaints about the aircraft that have been sowing “fear and panic” among the populace, which culminated in the elder’s death. They note that these aircraft are still active.

The leaders, representing the voices of their communities, have declared that they await a prompt and satisfactory response from the Puntland leadership. They warned that based on the government’s reply, they will formulate a “comprehensive and significant general position” regarding the security and stability of their people and regions.

The ball is now in the court of the Puntland government, as pressure mounts from its eastern regions for accountability and a immediate halt to military operations threatening civilian lives.