Somali Defense ministry worker killed in Mogadishu

Three men armed with pistols have on Wednesday gunned down a man identified as Yahye Haji Ali, who was an employee Somali ministry for Defense, in Mogadishu.

The late Ali was killed at Ma’ama’aanka area in Dharkeynley district, a witness who has a shop nearby.

“He fell on the ground writhing in pain and later succumbed to his injuries before he was taken to hospital,” he said.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the killing. The motive of the murder is still unclear.

Over the past few years, Mogadishu has witnessed numerous assassinations of security and government officials carried out by unknown gunmen, with Al-Shabaab claiming part of the attacks.

Though Al-Shabaab was pushed out of key towns in South and Central Somalia, the group has been able to hit high-profile targets in Mogadishu’s heavily fortified areas, including the government buildings, the UN compound and popular gathering places.