Somaliland lawmakers are considering a resolution calling for an independent investigation into the 2024 killing of a Somali civil aviation employee in Mogadishu. The resolution, presented to Somaliland's House of Representatives, seeks accountability for the death of Abdinasir Muse Abdirahman Dahable, 32. Dahable's body was found at his residence in Mogadishu's Wadajir district in February 2024.
Dahable worked for the Somali Civil Aviation Authority and was from the Gebiley district of Somaliland. Somali police detained six suspects and opened an investigation after finding Dahable dead at his home. Authorities did not publicly identify the suspects or announce charges in the immediate aftermath of the killing.
The resolution was read before lawmakers by Second Deputy Speaker Ali Hamud Jibril. It calls for an independent investigation into Dahable's death and for anyone found responsible to be prosecuted. The document also makes serious allegations against senior Somali federal officials, including officials in the presidency, the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), and the Somali Civil Aviation Authority.
The resolution alleges Dahable was targeted because of his Somaliland background. Dahable's relatives made similar accusations shortly after his death, alleging that he had told family members he was under pressure and had received threats linked to his aviation work. Somali authorities said they were investigating the death and announced the detention of six people.
An examination conducted at Hargeisa General Hospital after Dahable's body was transferred to Somaliland found injuries consistent with torture and strangulation. The hospital's then-director-general, Abdirahman Mohamed Osman, said Dahable had suffered a fractured jaw, injuries to his face and eye, and other wounds. Examiners concluded that Dahable had been strangled with a rope.
The proposed resolution also calls on international organizations to support an independent investigation and says Somaliland human rights bodies should pursue legal avenues to seek accountability. Dahable's death came during a bitter dispute between Somalia's federal government and Somaliland authorities over control of airspace and aviation management.
More than two years after the killing, publicly available information has not established who was responsible for Dahable's death. The Somaliland resolution would take effect if approved by Somaliland's House of Representatives.
Key points
- Somaliland lawmakers are pushing for an independent investigation into the 2024 killing of a Somali civil aviation employee.
- The killing has heightened tensions between authorities in Hargeisa and Somalia's federal government.
- Dahable's relatives and the Somaliland resolution allege he was targeted due to his Somaliland background.
