MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Prominent Somali military commander Nur Mohamed Gabow, a key figure in the fight against Al-Shabaab, was gunned down on Saturday by a uniformed assailant near the strategic frontline town of Afgoye, just outside Mogadishu.
Gabow, widely known as Nur Farey, commanded the 14th October Brigade and was a close ally of opposition leader and former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. A charismatic and battle-hardened officer, he played a pivotal role in recovering several Lower Shabelle towns—including Janale, Awdhegle, Marka, and Sabid—from militant control between 2018 and 2020.
The assassination occurred as Gabow addressed troops ahead of a planned offensive to retake Sabid town, recently seized by insurgents. The attacker, also in military uniform, shot Gabow dead before turning his weapon on other officers and soldiers. He was subsequently neutralized on the spot. Authorities have launched an investigation, but no group has yet claimed responsibility.
The killing has fueled suspicions of political motives, with many alleging a deliberate plot to weaken Sharif Sheikh Ahmed’s influence ahead of Somalia’s upcoming presidential election. Gabow, a fellow subclan member and a trusted military pillar for the opposition leader, was seen as instrumental to Ahmed’s political leverage.
His death adds to a growing list of high-profile military casualties since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared a full-scale war against Al-Shabaab in 2022. Among the fallen are renowned commanders such as Hassan Tuure, Farhan Qarole, and Shaah Macabe—losses that have raised questions about possible internal sabotage.
In a recent controversial remark, Somali Justice Minister Hassan Moalim implied that commanders once used to suppress opposition under former President Mohamed Abdullahi “Farmajo” were now being deployed to the frontlines. Critics interpreted the statement as a veiled justification—or even gloating—over their deaths, rather than an expression of mourning.
The assassination underscores the volatile security landscape in Somalia, where frontline battles, political rivalries, and insider threats converge with deadly consequences. As investigations continue, Gabow’s death leaves a strategic void in the fight against Al-Shabaab and deepens tensions within the country’s fractured political arena.
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