A village. A water run. Gunfire. Now a family is refusing burial until answers come.
A 24-year-old woman was shot dead in a rural village outside Balcad, triggering allegations of sexual assault by Somali government forces and renewed calls for an independent investigation.
The victim, identified by relatives as Naley Buurow Nuune, was killed on February 7 in Garas Diinle village in the Middle Shabelle region. Family members told local media that she had gone to collect water from a neighbor when she encountered soldiers operating in the area.
The forces accused include local units stationed in Balcad under District Commissioner Qasim Ali Nur, known as “Qasim Furdug,” as well as Turkish-trained Gorgor commandos reportedly deployed nearby. The Gorgor units are led by Sahid Jama Farah, widely known as “Sahid Jareere.”
Relatives allege that soldiers attempted to sexually assault Naley. A young boy who had accompanied her reportedly fled after gunfire broke out. The family says she was first shot in the arm, then assaulted, and later fatally shot in the back. They claim a bullet entered through her back and exited through her chest.
Her body was transported to Madina Hospital in Mogadishu. A medical report dated February 8 confirms she was brought in deceased, citing gunshot wounds as the cause of death and noting fatal bleeding. The report does not reference findings related to sexual violence.
Naley’s body remains in the hospital mortuary. Her family has refused burial, demanding accountability and a transparent investigation.
A clan elder from Middle Shabelle, Hussein Xaadoole, said one suspect was initially detained after a mobile phone allegedly belonging to him was found at the scene. He claimed the suspect was later released following intervention by a senior commander. These allegations have not been independently verified.
The Federal Government of Somalia, the Gorgor command, and the Balcad district administration have not publicly responded to the accusations.
The case has heightened tensions in Middle Shabelle, where security operations against Al-Shabaab have intensified in recent months. For Naley’s family, however, the focus remains clear: they want answers — and justice.
