SOMALI: Chaos at a Stadium in Galkayon City over suicide bombing

The attack in Galkayo, Somalia, targeted the country’s new prime minister, Mohamed Hussein Roble, the government said.Credit...Feisal Omar/Reuters

Several people were left dead and wounded Friday in a suicide bombing at the entrance of a crowded stadium in the southern part of Galkayon city Somalia, where Prime Minister Rooble Mohammed Hussein had been expected.

The attack has taken at least 16 lives — including a dozen civilians and several three high-ranking army officers

According to a local resident, Mumin Adan, "The city is in mourning and many bodies are buried in the main cemetery. I saw more than ten people brought there to be buried."

The extremist Islamist group al-Shabaab, linked to al-Qaeda, has claimed the attack targeting the prime minister — who had not yet arrived at the time of the explosion and citing the now -deceased commanders of two local military units.

The centrally located city of Galkayo at about 600 km north of Mogadishu, has been the scene for deadly violence in recent years between troops from the two semi-autonomous states of Somalia — Galmudug to its south and Puntland to its north> As well as and between their respective rival clans

Al-Shabaab controlled the Somali capital before being ousted in 2011 by African Union (AU) troops supporting the fragile Somali government. They still control vast rural areas from where they conduct their operations.

Somalia has plunged into chaos since the fall of President Siad Barre's military regime in 1991, followed by a war of clan leaders and the rise of al-Shabaab.

 

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At least 6 killed, mayor wounded in suicide bombing in Somalia's capital

Medical workers help a civilian who was wounded in a suicide bombing in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Wednesday.

The mayor of the Somali capital of Mogadishu was wounded and at least six others killed in a suicide bomb attack Wednesday on a government building, the country's information minister said.

The mayor, Abdirahman Omar Osman, was badly wounded in the blast, Somalia's Minister of Information Mohamed Abdi Hayir told reporters. Among those killed were two district commissioners and three regional-level directors, he said. In addition to the mayor, five others also were wounded, Hayir said.

Terror group Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, saying it targeted United Nations officials who were visiting the government building. CNN has not been able to independently confirm these claims.

Hours before the blast, James Swan, the UN special representative for Somalia and an American diplomat, met with the mayor and his district commissioners in the building but left after his meeting, police and the UN confirmed.

"I deplore this heinous attack which not only demonstrates a violent disregard for the sanctity of human life, but also targets Somalis working to improve the lives of their fellow Somalis in the Mogadishu-Banadir region," Swan said in a statement.

"The United Nations stands with the people and government of Somalia in their rejection of such terrorist acts, and our thoughts are with the victims of this attack."

Wednesday's attack follows another a few days earlier when a bomb went off near Mogadishu's international airport, killing 17 people. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for that attack.

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SOMALI: Mayor of Somali capital severely injured after 'suicide attack' on offices

Mayor of the Somali capital, Abdirahman Omar Osman, was injured on Wednesday after what is suspected to be a suicide attack at the Banadir administration headquarters in Mogadishu.

Deaths have been reported in the said attack which happened just after the United Nations, UN, envoy to Somalia, James Swan, left the premises.

Swan had met with Omar Osman and other officials of the capital for talks. Reports indicate that other victims of the attacks had been killed. In Somalia, the city mayor is also Governor of the Benadir Region.

Mayor Osman has previously worked in ministerial capacities including: Ministers of Information and Treasury. he has also acted at a point as government spokesperson and senior advisor to President/PM.

One report also confirmed that gunmen had fired mortars at the presidential palace earlier in the day.

No group has at yet claimed being behind the attack but Somalia continues to suffer from the impact of Al-Shabaab insurgency.

The insurgents have routinely launched attacks in parts of the capital using suicide bombs and improvised explosive devices, IEDs, which have often claimed lives and led to destruction of property.

Hodan Nalayeh: Somalia to honour diasporan TV host killed in Kismayo attack

One of their recent high-profile attacks was in the Jubaland capital of Kismayo. The 14-hour assault on a popular hotel led to the deaths of 26 people according to official records. An attack was also recorded on Monday in Mogadishu.

Harun Maruf

✔@HarunMaruf

Breaking: Reports of a mortar attack in areas close to the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu - security source. 3-4 rounds of mortars hit residential areas near 15 May School and civilian residents, unclear if there are any casualties - per sources.

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1:11 PM - Jul 24, 2019

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