Somali forces kill minister mistaken for a militant

Somali security forces have shot dead Abbas Siraji, the country’s minister for public works, after mistaking him for an Islamist militant.

Officials said the minister, who was also a lawmaker, “was killed by mistake”.

“They opened fire on his car accidentally,” Abdifatah Halane, Mogadishu mayoral spokesperson, said.

“May God rest his soul.”

Nur Hussein, a police major, told Reuters that security forces on patrol encountered a car blocking the street and, believing it was being driven by militants, opened fire.

Al Qaeda-affiliated al Shabaab militants have been carrying out attacks in Mogadishu and elsewhere in their campaign to topple Somalia’s government.

They also aim to drive out African Union peacekeeping troops out of the country.