Somali security forces shot dead a minister for public works in his car in the capital Mogadishu on Wednesday after mistaking him for an Islamist militant, officials said. Mogadishu mayoral spokesman Abdifatah Omar Halane said the minister, Abbas Abdullahi Sheikh Siraji, who was also a lawmaker, was killed "by mistake - they opened fire on his car accidentally.

Start the conversation, or Read more at Reuters. </s> Somalia’s minister of public works and reconstruction Abbas Abdullahi Siraji was killed in Mogadishu on Wednesday in an apparent accidental shooting, government and police sources said.

In a statement, the government said it was “deeply saddened” by the death of Siraji, the youngest member of the Somali cabinet who grew up in a Kenyan refugee camp before winning election in 2016 and being named a minister by President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed.

Siraji’s vehicle was mistakenly shot at by government security guards outside the presidential palace, a senator told AFP. </s> The new Somalia government has been dealt a major blow following the killing of the Public Works and Reconstruction minister Abbas Abdullahi Siraji. Initial reports indicated that government forces opened fire on the minister's vehicle near Villa Somalia, the state house in Mogadishu.

Start the conversation, or Read more at AllAfrica.com. </s> A Somali government minister was shot dead Wednesday near the country's presidential palace in Mogadishu.

The minister of public works and reconstruction, Abbas Abdullahi Sheikh Siraji, was declared dead after an exchange of gunfire Wednesday.

Witnesses told VOA's Somali Service that the minister was shot after bodyguards of Somalia's auditor general opened fire.

The auditor general, Nur Jimale Farah, said bodyguards in his vehicle suspected the car behind them carried a suicide bomber.

Farah says the shooting occurred Wednesday evening about 500 meters from the presidential palace, Villa Somalia.

Information Minister Abdirahman Omar Osman confirmed the death of Siraji on Twitter and said an investigation is under way.

Siraji was the youngest minister in the government and was among the first Somali refugees to return to the country from Kenya's Dadaab refugee camp last year. </s> Somalia's Minister of Public Works and Reconstruction Abbas Siraj was shot dead in capital Mogadishu on Wednesday evening following a gunfire from Somali government forces, officials said.

The incident took place in front of the presidential place in Mogadishu, Anadolu reported.

Mohamed Bulle, a police captain in the area, told Anadolu Agency over the telephone that the 31-year-old minister was killed after forces belonging to Somali government opened fire into his car near the state house in Warta Nabada district.

“Abbas Siraj, Somalia's public works and reconstruction minister, was killed near the presidential palace by government soldiers. We don’t yet know the motive behind this [shooting] but an investigation is underway," Captain Bulle said.

Information Minister Abdirahman Osman Yerisow also confirmed the incident in a short statement posted on his Facebook account, saying the “Somali minister of public works died this evening in Mogadishu following gunfire from soldiers”.

A former humanitarian worker, Abbas Sheikh Abdulahi Siraj grew up in Dadab, the world’s largest refugee camp in northeastern Kenya. He was the youngest member of the Somali cabinet, as well as the youngest MP.

Hassan Ali, MP from Jubaland state where Siraj was elected, called on the Somali government to hold accountable those who were behind the killing. </s> BREAKING: Somali minister for public works, Abdullahi Sheikh Abbas, has been shot dead in #Somalia's capital Mogadishu. pic.twitter.com/iXHsK6UmHE </s> Somalia's Public Works Minister Abdullahi Sheikh Abas has been killed after an attack on his convoy in the capital, Mogadishu.

He was shot in his car near the presidential palace, local media said.

Mr Abas was a former refugee who grew up in Dadaab camp in Kenya, home to hundreds of thousands of Somalis who fled drought and civil war.

He became the country's youngest MP last November, aged 31, when he defeated a former minister.

Much of Somalia is still under the control of Islamist militant group al-Shabab, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda.

The country held elections in February and Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo became the new president in a surprise result. </s> Somalia's Public Works Minister Abdullahi Sheikh Abas has been killed after an attack on his convoy in the capital, Mogadishu. Mr Abas was a former refugee who grew up in Dadaab camp in Kenya, home to hundreds of thousands of Somalis who fled drought and civil war.

Start the conversation, or Read more at Newsday. </s> Somalia attack: Minister Abas Abdullahi Sheikh killed in Mogadishu

 

 Somalia's security forces have shot dead a 31-year-old government minister after mistaking him for a militant Islamist, officials have said. He was killed in his vehicle near the presidential palace in the capital, Mogadishu, the officials added. The …
Somali Public Works Minister Abbas Abdullahi Sheikh Siraji is shot and killed inside his vehicle by security forces near the Villa Somalia in the capital Mogadishu, after mistaking him for a militant.