Skip to main content

Suicide bomb attack kills at least three Somali soldiers outside Mogadishu


Somali soldiers stand at a Somali military base, near the site of the attack in a file photo
© AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh Somali soldiers stand at a Somali military base, near the site of the attack in a file photo At least three Somali soldiers were killed in a suicide bomb attack in Afgoye district, a town 30 km to the north west of the capital Mogadishu, police and militants said.
The attack was claimed by Islamist militants al Shabaab. Somali soldiers were deployed in Afgoye this week in efforts to tighten security in the town ahead of an expected visit by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo.
"Police and military fired at a speeding suicide car bomb today and it exploded in Afgoye district. So far we know three soldiers died," Captain Nur Ali, a police officer, told Reuters by phone from Afgoye.
Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, citing a higher death toll than the police.
"A suicide car bomb targeted Somali forces who were deployed ahead of president Farmaajo’s visit in Afgoye. We killed 11 soldiers," Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab’s military operation spokesman, told Reuters on Sunday.
In a separate incident, Somali forces killed two militants after fighting erupted briefly at a checkpoint in Mogadishu early Sunday, police said.
"Somalia's military killed two armed militants at Benadir checkpoint. Two soldiers were slightly injured in the exchange of fire," Major Mohamed Abdullahi, a police officer, told Reuters.
Somalia has been convulsed by lawlessness and violence since 1991 when dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was toppled.
Al Shabaab is fighting to dislodge the western-backed central government and African Union-mandated peace-keeping force AMISOM, which defends it, and install its own government based on its strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ex-President Omar al-Bashir sent to prison days after he was ousted in a military coup

Sudan's former President Omar al-Bashir has been moved to Kobar maximum security prison, days after he was deposed in a military coup.   Reports say the ex-leader has until now been detained at the presidential residence under heavy guard. He is reportedly being held in solitary confinement and is surrounded by tight security.   Months of protests in Sudan led to the ousting and arrest of the long-time ruler on Thursday. Uganda's Minister for Foreign Affairs Henry Oryem Okello told Reuters news agency the country would consider offering the deposed leader asylum if he applied, despite an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).   As an ICC member, Uganda would have to hand over Mr Bashir if he arrived in the country. The ICC has not yet commented. Until now, Bashir's whereabouts since his removal were unknown. The coup leader at the time, Awad Ibn Auf, said Mr Bashir was being detained in a "safe place". He himself stoo...
Post a Comment
Read more

APC youth leader shot dead by suspected armed robbers while attempting to rescue female petrol station attendant in Edo State

  Unknown gunmen suspected to be armed robbers on Wednesday, March 28, shot dead the youth leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Etsako West local government of Edo State, Samson Sedi. Sedi, popularly known as Power Remain, was allegedly killed by armed robbers while attempting to rescue a female petrol station attendant at  NNPC mega in Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area, who was being robbed on Wednesday in Jattu. The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has expressed shock at the news of the brutal killing of Mr Sedi. "I was shocked on receiving the news of Mr. Samson Sedi’s death. My heart goes out to his family. I have ordered the relevant security agencies to arrest the killers and prosecute them without delay,” Obaseki said. He described the late Sedi as “a grassroots mobiliser, a philanthropist who cared for orphans and a great lover of people, whose death is a huge loss to Edo people and the APC.” “I learnt he was d...
Post a Comment
Read more

Community leader, two others shot in Plateau attacks

                        The district head of Gashis community in Plateau State and two others were shot on Sunday evening, an official has said. The transition management committee chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Dickson Chollom, on Monday reported the shooting of the district head in his house and that of two others in a barber’s shop in Barkin Ladi by armed men. “Gwom Rwei Gashis (the district head) is unconscious and has been rushed down to Barkin Ladi general hospital,” he said. Mr Chollom said the special task force on the Jos crisis (STF), also known as “Operation Safe Heaven” reported the shooting of the community leader to him. “Gashis commander, Awolor, confirmed to me that Mr Gashis’ residence was attacked and burned down.” Mr Chollom, in a text message on Monday morning, told PREMIUM TIMES that the community le...
Post a Comment
Read more