Opposition leaders and regional administrations opposed to Villa Somalia argue that the country is moving away from a democratic system in which political disputes are resolved through dialogue, constitutional mechanisms and elections. They accuse the Federal Government of increasingly resorting to military measures against politicians and senior officials who oppose the policies of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

The opposition also describes Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as a "term-expired president,” arguing that his constitutional mandate ended in May 2026. The Federal Government rejects that position and maintains that approved constitutional amendments extended the terms of the country's federal institutions to five years.

The Doolow airstrike has added a new and potentially dangerous dimension to that dispute. Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire described the incident as a dangerous new stage, warning against the use of armed drones and lethal military capabilities in domestic political disputes.

If an independent investigation establishes that General Mahad Shub was deliberately targeted because of his political position, the incident could raise serious questions about the use of military force against political opponents, government accountability, command responsibility and the involvement of foreign powers in Somalia's internal political conflicts.

Jubaland has directly accused the Federal Government of Somalia and Türkiye of responsibility for the attack. The Federal Government, however, has formally denied any involvement in the Doolow strike and has called for the outcome of an investigation to be awaited before responsibility is assigned.

The competing claims leave one crucial question unanswered: who ordered and carried out the strike against General Mahad Shub, and for what purpose?