A roadside bomb in Mogadishu targeted President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s convoy. The attack, claimed by al-Shabab, was described by the Information Ministry as a cowardly act. Witnesses reported seeing multiple bodies at the scene, although the president remained unharmed. Al-Shabab continues to challenge federal authority in Somalia.
On Tuesday, a roadside bomb detonated near Somalia’s presidential palace, targeting the convoy of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The Information Ministry denounced the incident as a “cowardly act of desperation” by the militant group al-Shabab, which took responsibility for the attack. Although the statement did not provide an official death count, a witness reported seeing three bodies at the scene, even as the president emerged unscathed.
Al-Shabab, which actively opposes Somalia’s federal government, has been responsible for frequent attacks against government officials and military personnel throughout the region. Despite ongoing military operations led by government forces and African Union peacekeepers, the group remains a significant threat, controlling various areas in rural Somalia. The recent explosion occurred shortly after the president had departed the palace in a convoy en route to the main airport.
The president was traveling to Middle Shabelle in southern Somalia to supervise military operations against al-Shabab militants. The group publicly claimed responsibility for the attack via a website aligned with their activities. Eyewitness Ayub Osman described seeing “three people lying on the ground, motionless, covered in dust and debris,” while another local resident, Hassan Nur, reported observing two bodies in the aftermath of the explosion.
In summary, the recent roadside bomb attack in Mogadishu targeting President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s convoy exemplifies the ongoing threat posed by al-Shabab militants in Somalia. Despite the president’s survival, the incident highlights the risks faced by government officials and the challenges in combating militia violence, even with military support from African Union forces.
Original Source: www.startribune.com
