Al Shabaab militants targeted Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in a bomb attack on his motorcade in Mogadishu. Fortunately, the President was unharmed, while four others were reported killed. The attack marks the first direct assault on the President since 2014, amidst ongoing military operations against the militant group.
Al Shabaab militants executed a bomb attack targeting the motorcade of Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Mogadishu. The militant group has since claimed responsibility for the assault. Fortunately, President Mohamud emerged unscathed, as confirmed by senior government officials and his adviser Zakariye Hussein, who stated that the president was “good and well on his way to the front lines.”
Witnesses, including local residents and soldiers, recounted that the president’s convoy was struck during the incident. A Reuters journalist on the scene reported observing the dead bodies of four individuals near the presidential palace, underscoring the severity of the attack.
In a statement issued on their Telegram channel, Al Shabaab declared, “Our fighters targeted a convoy of vehicles carrying Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as they were leaving the presidential palace and heading to the airport.” This assault is noteworthy as it constitutes the first direct attack on President Mohamud since a hotel bombing incident in 2014 during his earlier presidency.
Following the attack, state media aired images of President Mohamud visiting the Adan Yabal district in the Middle Shabelle region, where government forces are actively combating an Al Shabaab offensive that has persisted for three weeks. The resilience of the president amid ongoing threats highlights the precarious security situation in Somalia.
The recent attack on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s motorcade by Al Shabaab reflects the persistent danger posed by the militant group in Somalia. Despite the attack, the President was unharmed, with immediate reports indicating a focus on ongoing military operations against Al Shabaab. This incident marks a significant moment, being the first direct attack on him since 2014, illustrating the ongoing challenges in establishing stability within the nation.
Original Source: en.royanews.tv
