Al-Shabaab Executes Civilian in Central Somalia
Ceel-cadde (SDN)-Reports from the town of Ceel-cadde in the mid-Shabelle region say that a group of Al-Shabaab members executed an elderly man described as a livestock salesman.
Witnesses told Qurbejoog.com that the man was removed from his vehicle yesterday (April 23rd 2012) by militants who proceeded to behead him where he stood in the centre of Ceel-cadde shocking on-lookers. Members of the victim’s family told us that he was not affiliated with Somali politics and that his life was dedicated to business, specifically the livestock trade. He was sixty years old.
Al-Shabaab officials did not confirm the murder of the civilian which their members are accused of committing. These incidents are not uncommon and are a trademark of the Al-Qaeda affiliated organization of Al-Shabaab in Somalia. In related news the body of District Commissioner of Ceel-cadde was found beheaded last week.
Most targeted killings by militants in the region are politically motivated which raises questions as to why this man was targeted. There may be turbulent times ahead for the Somali public if this is indicative of a change in the way Al-Shabaab conducts its operations.
SDN-Ceel-cadde