Friday October 23, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — A Somali military court sentenced police officer Jamaal Hassan Abdulle to death Thursday after convicting him of murdering Brig. Gen. Salaad Mohamed Guled, the former head of the Somali Police Force’s Communications and Technology Department, at his home in Mogadishu in June.
The First Instance Armed Forces Court also sentenced Mustaf Hussein Guure, known as Kaamil, to one year of security surveillance in connection with the killing.
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Col. Hassan Ali Nur Shuute, the court’s presiding judge, announced the verdict on Oct. 22, saying both the prosecution and defense had been given sufficient time to present their cases.
According to evidence presented in court, Abdulle had served as Guled’s personal bodyguard and was someone the general had personally mentored and helped recruit into the Somali Police Force.
After completing his training, Abdulle was assigned to the Police Communications Department, which Guled commanded.
Prosecutors said the dispute that preceded the killing involved a government-issued AK-47 rifle registered in Guled’s name but entrusted to Abdulle as part of his security duties.
The prosecution alleged that Abdulle sold the weapon and used the proceeds to gamble on the online betting platform 1xBet, triggering a dispute with the general.
According to the court proceedings, Abdulle went to Guled’s residence on the night of June 1 and shot him three times, striking him in the back and arm. The general’s killing was reported on June 2.
Prosecutors also accused Abdulle of attempting to conceal evidence by using a towel and undershirt belonging to the victim and disposing of spent bullet casings.
The court heard that security cameras installed at the residence captured some of the defendant’s movements outside the house, providing evidence used during the investigation.
The second defendant, Guure, was accused of assisting Abdulle by checking whether anyone was outside the residence and providing misleading information to police officers who arrived at the scene.
Prosecutors also alleged that Guure remained inside the residence for approximately 12 minutes after the shooting without attempting to help the wounded general.
Guure, who had known the deceased since 2019 and later shared a residence with him, was also accused of using fraudulent military identification and ranks.
The court sentenced Abdulle to death for the murder, while Guure received one year of security surveillance.