BAIDOA — A prominent youth football coach was killed on Tuesday evening in the southwestern Somali city of Baidoa after a government soldier allegedly discharged his weapon accidentally, in an incident that has renewed public concern over worsening security conditions in the town.
The victim, identified as Abdi Somali, was the head coach of Darusalam football club and a respected figure within Baidoa’s sporting community. He was widely recognized for mentoring young athletes and promoting sports as an alternative to violence and insecurity affecting many Somali youth.
According to local residents and eyewitnesses, the shooting occurred in one of Baidoa’s busy neighborhoods where civilians and security personnel were present. Preliminary reports indicate that the firearm carried by a member of the Somali security forces discharged unintentionally, striking Abdi Somali at close range.
Witnesses described scenes of panic and confusion immediately after the gunfire, as residents and bystanders rushed to assist the wounded coach.
“He collapsed instantly after being hit,” one eyewitness said. “People tried to help him and transport him for medical treatment, but he died at the scene before any assistance could arrive.”
Local sources said security forces immediately detained the soldier involved in the incident, while authorities launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The death of Abdi Somali has triggered widespread grief across Baidoa, particularly among youth groups, football players, and local residents who viewed him as a positive role model in a city facing mounting social and security challenges.
Dozens of mourners gathered shortly after the incident, with many describing the coach as a dedicated community figure who spent years helping vulnerable young people remain engaged in education and sports instead of drifting toward crime or armed conflict.
“Abdi Somali was more than a coach,” one former player told local media. “He was a mentor who encouraged young people to believe in themselves despite the difficult environment around them.”
The incident comes amid growing concerns over deteriorating security conditions in Baidoa, the administrative capital of Somalia’s South West State. Residents have increasingly complained about rising insecurity, armed robberies, targeted killings, and incidents involving undisciplined security personnel.
Community elders and civil society activists have repeatedly called on authorities to strengthen oversight of armed forces and improve public safety measures, warning that accidental shootings and unchecked weapons continue to endanger civilians.
Security analysts say the widespread presence of weapons, combined with political tensions and the ongoing threat posed by the Al-Shabaab militant group, has contributed to an increasingly fragile security environment in parts of southern Somalia.
In recent months, residents in Baidoa have voiced growing fears over nighttime insecurity and the movement of armed individuals in civilian areas, despite the continued presence of government security forces and regional authorities.
No official statement had been released by South West State authorities or Somali federal security agencies at the time of publication.
