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An armed man believed to be a Somali government soldier shot and killed a rickshaw driver in Mogadishu’s Dayniile district on Sunday night, according to the victim’s family.
The victim was identified as Abdirisaq Abuukar Mohamud, a civilian who worked as a rickshaw operator to support his family. The shooting happened in the Barwaqo area of Dayniile, a residential neighborhood on the outskirts of the capital. Relatives and witnesses said the suspect was a member of the Somali National Army.
Family members said the soldier opened fire on Abdirisaq at close range, killing him instantly. After the shooting, the suspect reportedly fled the scene and fired shots into the air as he escaped, causing panic among residents in the area. Witnesses said another soldier who was with the suspect at the time of the incident was later arrested by authorities.
Abdirisaq’s body was taken to a hospital in Mogadishu, where it remains as the family waits for justice. Relatives said they will not proceed with burial arrangements until the main suspect is arrested and formally charged.
“A soldier killed my brother Abdirisaq and then ran away,” said Yusuf Absuge, a relative of the deceased, in an interview with Hiiraan Online. “He is known, and another soldier who was with him has already been arrested. We want the one who pulled the trigger to be brought to justice.”
The killing has shocked the family and the wider community, especially given Abdirisaq’s personal circumstances. According to his relatives, he and his wife, Aa’isha Abdi, had been preparing to leave Somalia after winning the United States diversity visa lottery.
Yusuf said the couple had already completed most of the process and were only waiting for the final interview stage. “The visa is ready. All that remained was an interview in Bangkok, Thailand,” he said. “They were planning their future together, and now all of that has been destroyed.”
Neighbors described Abdirisaq as a hardworking and peaceful man who posed no threat to anyone. They said he was simply trying to earn a living in a difficult economic environment, like many other rickshaw drivers in Mogadishu.
The incident has renewed public concern over the conduct of some government soldiers and the need for stronger accountability. While shootings involving civilians and government forces have decreased in recent months due to tighter security measures and increased public pressure, cases like this continue to undermine public trust.
Human rights advocates and community elders have repeatedly called on authorities to ensure that soldiers who commit crimes against civilians are held accountable under the law. They argue that failure to act decisively not only harms victims’ families but also weakens confidence in state institutions.
So far, there has been no official statement from the Somali National Army regarding the incident. Residents of Dayniile say they are watching closely to see whether the authorities will follow through with a transparent investigation and arrest the suspect.
For Abdirisaq’s family, justice is now their main concern. As they mourn the loss of a husband, brother, and provider, they say accountability is the only way to honor his memory and prevent similar incidents from happening again.