In the event, the immediate precipitants of the coup were entirely unexpected. During the absence on a visit overseas of Prime Minister Igal, on 15 October, 1969, while visiting drought stricken regions in Las Anod District in the north of the Republic, President 'Abd ar-Rashid 'Ali Shirmarke was shot dead by one of his police guards. At this news, the Premier hastened back to Mogadishu to organize the election of a new President upon whom he could rely for support. The Premier's candidate was an old-campaigner and close associate, Haji Muse Boqor. When, at a late-night meeting on 20 October, the party caucus reached agreement to present this nominee as their official candidate, thus virtually ensuring his election as President and Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Igal's re-appointment as Premier, those army officers who had been closely watching developments decided to act. … In the early hours of 21 October the army occupied key points throughout the capital, members of the government and other leading politicians and personalities were placed in detention (or, as in the case of General Muhammad Abshir, under house arrest). The Constitution was suspended, the Supreme Court abolished, the National Assembly closed, political parties declared illegal, and rule by a Supreme Revolutionary Council established.

I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Som…, loc. 508