MOGADISHU, Somalia — A social media post claiming an explosion occurred at an election hall in Las Anod on August 30, 2025, has been ruled false. The image circulating alongside the post does not depict the reported incident and is actually an old photo from a different event that took place in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
The Facebook post stated, “Breaking: A powerful explosion occurred at the election hall where the militias of the eastern Sool are holding an election in Las Anod. It is said that the explosion killed Firdhiye.” The accompanying photo showed dark smoke rising, with bystanders near a roundabout, leading to speculation about the validity of the information shared.
On the same day, Abdikadir Ahmed Aw-Cali, also known as Firdhiye, was elected as the first president of the Northeastern State during a ceremony in Las Anod, with his rival Abdirashid Yussuf Jibril winning the role of deputy president. Notably, Firdhiye was seen meeting with political opponents shortly after the election, contradicting claims that he had been killed in an explosion.
A reverse image search revealed that the photo used in the post has been online since July 2019, initially published by Hiiraan Online in reference to a separate incident involving a suspected car bomb in Mogadishu. This discrepancy raises alarms about the intent behind sharing the misleading post.
There is no corroborating evidence confirming any explosion in Las Anod on the date mentioned. Searches for news related to an explosion at the election venue yielded no results, despite the significant presence of candidates, lawmakers, and federal officials at the event, suggesting such an incident would have sparked widespread media attention.
Additionally, a statement from the Northeastern Regional State police chief on the day of the election made no mention of any attacks in Las Anod, further casting doubt on the claims circulating on social media. Fact-checkers have concluded that the post, which suggests a lethal incident involving Firdhiye, lacks any foundation and should be regarded as misinformation.
The propagation of incorrect information during times of political significance poses risks, not only to those mentioned but also to the broader community’s perception of safety and stability. It’s crucial for individuals to verify the authenticity of such claims before sharing them to prevent the further spreading of misinformation.