Ethiopian Diplomat Assassinated in Lasanod: Terror Shadows Eastern Sool

[Deeq A.]

Lasanod, Somaliland – April 20, 2025 –
The brutal killing of Ethiopian diplomat and security expert Farah Aided Jama in Laascaanood has intensified concerns over growing terrorist activity and militia control in Eastern Sool. Jama, who served at the Ethiopian Consulate in Garowe, was abducted from his residence and later found dead in the Goojacade valley, showing signs of torture and gunshot wounds. His mobile devices and belongings were missing, and he appeared to have been deliberately targeted.

This latest murder highlights a dangerous trend that has plagued Laascaanood since 2023 — a wave of mysterious killings, often blamed on “unknown gunmen,” but increasingly believed to involve extremist-linked militias. The SSC-Khaatumo administration, which controls the region, has so far remained silent on the diplomat’s death.

Ethiopia, which shares a border with Somaliland and the volatile Eastern Sool region, has grown deeply concerned. Security officials in Addis Ababa point to escalating threats from militias concentrated in areas like Buuhoodle — home to Abdi Madoobe, a radical figure with known links to the former al-Itihaad al-Islamiya and Somalia’s Islamic Courts Union.

Madoobe is reportedly leading covert training camps for armed fighters in Buuhoodle, raising red flags among regional and international intelligence agencies. These camps, blending clan militias with jihadist ideology, are seen as breeding grounds for instability that could spill across borders.

The international community has also begun closely monitoring developments, as fears mount that Eastern Sool is becoming a safe haven for extremist elements. Arms smuggling routes, radical recruitment, and a lack of local accountability have transformed the region into a security hotspot.

As the killing of Farah Aided Jama sends shockwaves through diplomatic and intelligence circles, calls are growing for a coordinated regional response to dismantle terror networks and restore stability along the Somaliland-Ethiopia frontier. What was once dismissed as local unrest now appears to be part of a wider and more dangerous movement taking root in Eastern Sool.

Somaliland diplomat

Qaran News