MOGADISHU: At least three people were killed, and two others sustained injuries when a suicide bomber targeted the mayoral offices in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, on Tuesday, according to authorities and witnesses. The attacker detonated an explosive near a restaurant, causing a vehicle parked in the vicinity to catch fire.
Somali police released a statement confirming the casualties, stating that three persons were killed and two others sustained injuries. The victims were in close proximity to the blast. Witnesses recounted that the bomber, who was killed in the explosion, had been running away from pursuing police officers.
The city of Mogadishu has been a frequent target of attacks by the Al-Shabaab group, which has been engaged in a prolonged campaign to overthrow the government. While there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the recent attack, Al-Shabaab has been responsible for numerous similar incidents in the region.
Al-Shabaab controlled Mogadishu until 2011, when African Union troops pushed them out. However, the group still maintains control over significant rural areas in Somalia.
Somalia Govt Offensive Against Al-Shabab
The Somali central government initiated a major offensive against Al-Shabaab in August 2022, collaborating with local clan militias. Despite initial gains, the offensive has faced challenges, with the group holding ground and carrying out deadly attacks on both civilian and military targets.
This latest bombing adds to the ongoing security concerns in Somalia, occurring just a week after the country’s military reported searching for people “taken hostage” by Al-Shabaab following an emergency landing of a UN helicopter in hostile territory. The helicopter, owned by a private Ukrainian company, was reported to have crash-landed, resulting in casualties and captives, as confirmed by an internal UN memo circulated among staff in Somalia.
