GEDO, Somalia — September 6, 2026: Anger spilled onto the streets of Doolow and Garbaharey on Saturday, as demonstrators protested the alleged Turkish involvement in the airstrike that targeted the residence of General Mahad Abdirahman “Shub” in Doolow.
Protesters burned the Turkish flag and chanted slogans including “We don’t want Türkiye” and “We don’t want drones,” expressing growing opposition to what they described as foreign military interference in Somalia’s internal affairs.
The demonstrations also turned sharply political, with protesters chanting “Hassan is a thief,” in reference to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, whose constitutional term has become a major point of political controversy.
The protests come as Somalia faces one of its most serious political crises in recent years. The Federal Government has been locked in escalating confrontations with federal member states, particularly over control of political and security affairs.
Critics accuse Mogadishu of using political pressure and military force to undermine regional administrations, including its confrontation with former South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen. Tensions have also deepened between the Federal Government and Puntland and Jubaland, raising fears that Somalia’s political divisions could further destabilize the country.
Jubaland-linked officials and other voices have alleged that Turkish-linked aircraft were involved in the Doolow attack. The Federal Government has denied responsibility, while Türkiye has not publicly acknowledged carrying out the strike. The competing claims have yet to be independently verified.
For many protesters in Gedo, however, the Doolow incident has become more than an alleged airstrike. It has emerged as a symbol of growing anger over foreign military involvement, the Federal Government’s political strategy, and what demonstrators see as the erosion of federalism and regional autonomy in Somalia.
The question now facing Mogadishu and Ankara is whether they can provide credible answers about what happened in Doolow — and why.
