Security forces open fire during funeral procession of jailed Somali general
On the day of his burial, as his body was being escorted through Mogadishu, a clash erupted between armed supporters and security personnel. The procession, attended by thousands, turned chaotic when security forces opened fire.
Security forces opened fire, injuring several individuals among the hundreds of angry relatives and supporters escorting the body of General Sheegow Ahmed Ali — a controversial former senior Somali military officer — witnesses have confirmed. The general died in hospital earlier this week while serving a ten-year prison sentence for resisting arrest and aiding criminal activity.
General Sheegow was arrested on August 19, 2023, after a brief gun battle with security forces at his Mogadishu residence. He had defied an order to surrender to authorities after refusing to hand over members of his armed staff accused of violent robbery, whom he was allegedly shielding.
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On the day of his burial, as his body was being escorted through Mogadishu, a clash erupted between armed supporters and security personnel. The procession, attended by thousands, turned chaotic when security forces opened fire.
“Today, as we were escorting his body in a procession attended by thousands of angry relatives and supporters, the forces opened fire and several people were wounded. There are reports that some of those escorting the body were armed. One soldier and one mourner were injured during the melee,” witness Mohamed Abdi told Eastleigh Voice.
General Sheegow had been sentenced by a military court on November 2, 2023 to a ten-year jail term and a fine for resisting arrest, which resulted in the death and injury of government officers. He was later taken to the hospital after falling ill, where he died from liver-related complications, according to government and family sources.
General Sheegow Ahmed Ali.
On Tuesday, Health Minister Ali Haji Adan confirmed that General Sheegow died of liver cancer, following a long battle with liver disease.
“Doctors confirmed he was suffering from hepatitis B, which is common in Somalia. This virus damaged his liver, eventually causing cancer. He had received treatment multiple times, but during his final hospitalisation, he was taken to ICU and later passed away. May his soul rest in peace. We share in the grief with his family,” said the minister.
The general’s elder brother, Abukar Ahmed Ali, also confirmed that his brother died of illness. He appealed for calm and respect, asking people not to spread false claims about his brother’s death.
“My late brother died from illness and was not poisoned. We urge respect and tolerance during this difficult time and request that he be given a state funeral since he was a senior military official. He will be buried in Jowhar,” Abukar told reporters on Tuesday.
The general was buried in his home village of Towfiq, near Jowhar in Hirshabelle State. His arrest and death in custody sparked a public outcry in Mogadishu and online, particularly among members of the Jareerweyne clan — to which he belonged. Many believe his arrest was politically motivated and that he may have been poisoned while in prison, a claim denied by the government.
“The general was unjustly arrested, mistreated in prison, and denied medical care. He was only hospitalised when his condition worsened. We hold the government responsible for his death. There are others who have committed worse crimes and remain free, yet our only general was attacked at home, imprisoned, and now he has died in custody,” said Mowlid Mohamed, a resident.
The general’s body was escorted from Banadir Hospital to the airport, from where it was airlifted to Jowhar for burial. Thousands attended funeral prayers in Mogadishu and the burial in Jowhar.
Several Somali leaders have spoken publicly about the general’s death, which has dominated online news and social media discourse. Former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who worked with General Sheegow during his administration, praised the late general’s contributions to the fight against Al-Shabaab.
“General Sheegow played a key role in the fight against Al-Shabaab terrorists and in the liberation of many areas in the Middle and Lower Shabelle regions,” the former president posted on Tuesday.
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