By Goth Mohamed Goth
Kismayo, Somalia — A drone strike that targeted a former Somali Police Commander inside Jubbaland territory has ignited fresh accusations that Turkey’s counter-terrorism assets are being repurposed for political elimination, as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration faces mounting criticism over its extended stay in power.
Security sources have confirmed that the airstrike targeting Jen, Mahad Abdiraxmaan “Shub”—who previously served twice as Somalia’s police chief—was carried out using one of the unmanned aerial vehicles Turkey provided to Mogadishu specifically for operations against Al-Shabaab. The attack, which struck Shub’s location in the city, left him with shrapnel wounds to the face while his wife and two family members sustained minor injuries. He is currently receiving treatment at a secure medical facility operated by Jubbaland forces.
However, the operation has done little to reassure Somali political observers, who point to a growing pattern of Turkish-backed military actions being directed not at extremist strongholds, but at domestic political figures aligned with the opposition.
Political targeting allegations
Opposition leaders and local sources have accused the Turkish government of becoming deeply entangled in Somalia’s internal power struggles, alleging that Ankara has abandoned its stated role as a neutral security partner and instead thrown its full support behind President Hassan Sheikh, whose constitutional mandate is widely considered to have expired.
Critics charge that Turkish intelligence and military personnel on the ground are now feeding targeting intelligence used to strike political rivals under the false pretext that they are affiliated with Al-Shabaab. The strike on Shub, they argue, fits this pattern—a message intended to intimidate any figure who dares challenge the president’s legitimacy.
”The drones were brought here to fight terrorists, not to bomb Somali citizens in their homes,” said one political source who spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisal. “What we are seeing is the systematic use of foreign military power to silence dissent and keep an expired administration in place.”
A flagrant violation of international law
Legal experts and political analysts have raised grave concerns over the legality of Turkey conducting military operations on Somali soil without explicit, case-by-case authorization from Somali authorities—and particularly when such strikes target domestic political figures rather than verified militant threats.
Under international law, including the UN Charter’s principle of sovereignty and non-intervention, foreign states are prohibited from using force within the territory of another sovereign nation without that nation’s consent or UN Security Council authorization. While Turkey maintains a bilateral security agreement with Somalia, legal scholars argue that agreement does not grant Ankara blanket authority to carry out extrajudicial strikes against Somali citizens—especially those with no proven ties to terrorist organizations.
”This is not a counter-terrorism operation; this is foreign interference dressed in military fatigues,” said an international law expert who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. “Turkey is violating Somalia’s sovereignty by conducting unilateral strikes against political figures. Even if Mogadishu has turned a blind eye, that does not make it legal under either Somali or international law.”
The strike on Shub, critics contend, represents a dangerous precedent in which a foreign power effectively acts as an enforcement arm of an embattled domestic administration, carrying out what amounts to political assassinations under the guise of security cooperation. Such actions, they warn, constitute a direct assault on Somalia’s territorial integrity and self-determination.
Turkey’s deepening role and unlawful interference
Turkey has in recent years become one of Somalia’s most influential foreign partners, establishing its largest overseas military base in Mogadishu, training Somali forces, and supplying drones that have been used in high-profile strikes against Al-Shabaab operatives. But that partnership has increasingly drawn scrutiny as Turkish officials have reportedly taken sides in Somalia’s fractious political landscape.
Diplomatic observers note that Turkey has openly aligned itself with President Hassan Sheikh’s camp, providing not only military backing but also political cover as the president faces growing domestic opposition and international pressure to hold timely elections.
Critics argue that Ankara’s interference extends beyond military support to active meddling in Somalia’s internal political affairs—a clear violation of the principle of non-intervention enshrined in the UN Charter and the African Union’s Constitutive Act. By choosing one political faction over another and using its military assets to eliminate opponents, Turkey has effectively inserted itself as an arbiter of Somali politics, a role it has no legal or moral right to play.
”The question is not whether Turkey has the capability to carry out these strikes; the question is whether it has the legal authority to do so,” the legal expert added. “The answer is a resounding no. This is an act of aggression against a sovereign state, and the Somali government’s complicity does not render it lawful.”
A shift in Somalia’s security calculus
The incident has forced a reassessment of Somalia’s security architecture, which now appears vulnerable to exploitation for political ends. Sources warn that if foreign-supplied counter-terrorism platforms continue to be used against domestic opponents, the entire framework of international support for Somalia’s security sector could unravel.
”Turkey has crossed a line,” said a regional security analyst based in Nairobi. “When counter-terrorism becomes a euphemism for political assassination, the Somali state loses whatever credibility it had left. And the international community must ask itself: is it funding stabilization or state-sponsored repression?”
Shub’s condition and Jubbaland’s role
Shub, a prominent figure with deep ties to Jubbaland’s security apparatus, is reported to be recovering under the protection of regional forces. His survival has been met with relief by his supporters, who view the attack as a brazen attempt to eliminate a figure who could potentially rally opposition to Mogadishu’s central government.
Jubbaland authorities have not officially commented on the strike, but sources indicate that regional leaders are increasingly alarmed by the federal government’s willingness to use foreign firepower in areas that fall outside its direct control.
Unanswered questions and international accountability
As of publication, neither the Somali federal government nor the Turkish embassy in Mogadishu has issued a formal statement regarding the airstrike. Officials have previously denied any misuse of counter-terrorism assets for political purposes, insisting that all operations are conducted in coordination with Somali security forces and target only verified Al-Shabaab fighters.
However, the lack of transparency surrounding the Shub strike—and the growing number of similar incidents—has done little to quell fears that Somalia’s fight against extremism is being hijacked by a far more cynical agenda: the preservation of power at any cost.
Legal experts are now calling on the international community, including the African Union, the United Nations, and Turkey’s NATO allies, to investigate the incident and demand accountability. They argue that if left unchecked, Turkey’s actions could set a dangerous precedent for other foreign powers operating in fragile states, where counter-terrorism partnerships could be weaponized to suppress political dissent.
For now, Shub lies in a guarded medical ward, his wounds a stark reminder of the lengths to which the current administration—and its Turkish backers—are reportedly willing to go. Whether the international community will hold them accountable remains an open question.
