MOGADISHU- A suicide car bomber killed at least 10 people on Monday in the worst attack in the Somali capital this year when he tried to kill Mogadishu’s security chief near the presidential palace, police and rebels said.

Al Qaeda-linked Islamist militant group al Shabaab said it carried out the attack along Maka al Mukarram road that runs between the palace and the national theatre, a route lined by tearooms that were engulfed in fire from the blast.

A public minibus driving along the road burst into flames, when the suicide bomber set off explosives packed into his car in an attempt to kill Khalif Ahmed Ilig, the Mogadishu security chief, police and the rebels said.

Ambulance sirens wailed through the city’s congested streets and a Reuters witness at the scene saw pools of blood on the ground. Residents joined in the rescue operations, pulling victims from the tea-houses and the minibus.

Police said seven civilians, three government security officers, and the bomber died in the blast that brought part of the city to a standstill. At least seven others were injured.

“The suicide car bomber targeted a senior national security officer whose car was passing near the theatre,” senior police officer Abdiqadir Mohamud told Reuters, adding that the official had been injured.

“Most of the people who died were on board the minibus – civilians. This public vehicle coincidentally came between the government car and the car bomb when it was hit. Littered at the scene are human hands and flesh.”

The explosion could be heard several kilometres (miles) away in Mogadishu’s central business district.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, elected last year in the country’s first national vote since dictator Siad Barre’s overthrow in 1991, was in another part of the city during the blast, police said. The presidential palace stands about 100 metres from where the explosion struck.

Civil war followed the fall of Barre, which left Somalia without effective central government and awash with weapons, ushering in two decades of turmoil.

Security in Mogadishu has improved greatly since a military offensive drove Islamist rebels allied to al Qaeda out of the city in August 2011. But bombings and assassinations in Mogadishu, blamed on militants, still occur often.

The attack on Monday was the worst so far this year, police said, a stark reminder of two decades of civil strife, in a war-torn country where the central government depends heavily on a 17,600-strong African Union peacekeeping force for its survival.

“A wall, a tea-shop and two small shops collapsed from the blast. I could see injured people being pulled from under these places. There are pieces of human flesh and blood on the scene,” resident Farah Abdulle told Reuters.

“This is Maka Al Mukaram road, the riskiest and busiest street in Mogadishu.”

“REVENGE”

Al Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage said the group was behind the attack. The group, which wants to impose its strict version of Islamic law, or Sharia, said the strike was in revenge for the killing of people believed to be its members over the past few weeks.

“A car bomb by a mujahid targeted Khalif, the Mogadishu national security chief. He is seriously injured,” Rage, told Reuters. “Many of his body guards and other security officials died and many others were wounded. It was revenge.”

On Sunday, al Shabaab fighters regained control of Hudur, the capital of Bakool province near the Ethiopian border, after Ethiopian troops who have been part of an African offensive against the militants withdrew from the dusty town. It was not immediately clear why the Ethiopian troops pulled out.

In September, al Shabaab withdrew from the southern Indian Ocean port of Kismayu under pressure from African union troops, their last major urban bastion in the Horn of Africa state.

This signalled their demise as a quasi-conventional military force. However, they pledged to step up a campaign of suicide bombings and hit-and-run attacks.

Source: Reuters

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1 COMMENT

  1. Please stop this nonsense, Hassan Sheikh was not elected but SELECTED. Election is a modern and a fair process were each constituent of voting age has one vote. This man was selected on primitive and clannish process. It was not fair either, because the votes of clan warlords were bought.

    I heard Mr. Hassan sheikh talking nonstop about five point plan for Somalia and he said his!st, 2nd and 3rd priorities were security. The right question is; Why his palace still the target of the terrorists if he managed to come up with good security plan? Secondly, how come heavy weapons were stolen from inside the Presidential compound? and finally can he trusted with the Security council approved weapon imports to Somalia?

    I think the gang running Somalia are deluded and ignorant liars that can not be trusted by the international community.

  2. British and Americans are those behind the weapon issue, and this shows that they are always wrong. The only think they see is the sign of Tawxiid, and they don't like it, but determined to do anything possible to fight the name Islam. For that they can do anything even if that takes Somalis to fight each other for the rest of their time.

    Now Al-Shabaab is stronger that before, because they infiltrated each and every organ of this government. They can do anything they want, and proof is that they emptied the weapon depot of Mr.Garguurte villa.

  3. There is a dictum that says " if you cannot beat your enemies, join them." The only door is open for Hassan Sheikh and his new blood (Dam Jadiid) adminstgiration to join Alshabab and offer an olive branch to them in order to contain them and convince them to take their share in the power. No other way is open for Hassan Sheikh and his adminsinstration. The reason is that there three enemies within his home. The first enemy is, Amison, who see that there is no inteterest for them in having a powerful Somali Government. The second enemy is Faqash remanets who see Hassan's adminsitration as a tribal administration. The third enemy is those who made, and still continue to make a lot of money out of Somalia's anarchy.

    The only way to get rid of the two first enemies is that Hassan's administration and Alshabab must unite for the sake of their country and their people. Anything else other than that is useless

    • Inna lillah wa’inaaa illahi raja’uun…. The enemy is still massacring innocent pple. @ Hirsi we see the problem of Somalia differently. 1)))))The Cululow’s pple don’t want a government they want to continue feeding themselves with the HARAM stuff over 22yrs.2ndly The shababs who are funded and supported by Siilanyo adms in the North in order to continue the same old lies of Ictiraaf and living of the UN over 21yrs. 3rdly the Amisom don’t want to leave bcoz of the UN $money. The solution is Somaliland must stop supporting this enemy, and Culusow must resign if he can’t sale his case to his malitia’s. Amisom must send to the safe haven of terrorist in the North to capture Ina Godane and Ibrahim and more.

    • @ Hirsi,

      Don't blame Faqash or Amisom but blame your Isaaq terrorist cousin Godane who leads the largest terror org in Somalia ( Al shabab). He is responsible for this and countless other atrocity in recent years.

    • Hirsi,

      Go f&$k your self and s&$k a big fat d&$k. How can you assign blame on Darood when we all know al shabba is lead by an isaaq terrorist murderer called Godane. I don't care if you hate Darood you can hate Darood all your life i am cool with that but don't f&%king lie you dirty f#ggot.

  4. Illaahay iyakana dhibaatada ha ka saaro inagana ha inaga furdaamiyo. Wixii dhintayna Illaahay ha u naxariisto.

  5. Omer,

    You said it straight! "Now Al-Shabaab is stronger that before, because they infiltrated each and every organ of this government. They can do anything they want, and proof is that they emptied the weapon depot of Mr.Garguurte villa. "

    I don't know who was responsible for the theft but did you notice how the international news outlets ignored that weapons were stollen from the President's compound? This was breath-taking to happen so soon after the lifting of the embargo. If the govt cannot control its own compound what would be the consequences of the lifting of the embargo?

    We'll find out the answer to that sooner rather than later.

  6. nacalaa kutaal al-shabaab iyo inta taageertaba qudhun qudhun dhalay sidaa u xasuuqa dadka masaakiinta ah waar reer koonfur ilaahay uun baa u maqan may galabsan hawiye dhibtan labaatanka sano ku habsatay daarood bay ku macaanayd iyakaa somalida kele oo dhan dembi ka galay eh sorry reer muqdisho

      • Sahra,
        Listen Mohamed Cheers hates not the good darood,hawiye,issaq,dir,rahanwayn and
        all others but hates all their bad ones. I doubt that you understood who is and what
        Mohamed Cheers represents do you? Listen Sahra, I don't even know this Misslovely
        except her beautiful name and your also beautiful Zahra name…but at least you and eye
        had some sexy conversations which I never had with Misslovely!. Sahra xagad ka dhoohan
        tahay gabar yahay doolalada iyo aflagadada dheer e???? Long time ago I tried to seek you out
        but couldn't row together your flirting danbabidhooyinka dameer debedeka with all his beautiful
        rainbow colors. Gabar MJdheen aan kala dabad galloow..soo waxad garatay maaha.
        Bye bye sadly ..ex lover.
        Cheers.

  7. Listen to this coward habar gidir Ali Mohamud Rage getting all excited by bombing innocent people in a mini bus while hiding in a rat hole.

    This Abgal elders government is not serious of defeating al shabaab just saturday the so called abgal elder mohamud announced al-Shabaab's were defeated and then on sunday al shabaab retooks Awdinle and Hudur of bay and Bakool region.

    These useless Abgal elders literally have no brain (Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed) and are not capable of leading our nation they should hand over the leadership ASAP.

    • Bro you might be right about what you said about their leadership, but pleas leave the qabiil attack out of it. I'm starting to be annoyed by how they are dealing with the corrupt individuals who seem to be in charge of many important high ranking places, myself. But lets leave the qabiil out of it pleas, so that we stay united

      • @Truth10

        Its nothing to do with qabiil it's called stating the truth mate mogadishu is not like other mixed cities for like gaalkacyo where theres a lot of different clans and AL shabaab has the ability to sneak around without being detected or can used the clan card to mobilize new support from the clans within gaalkacyo but mogadishu is exclusively an Abgal enclave and most of roads that links to mogadishu to like balcaad, jowhaar, afgooye, marka etc have been re-captured so where does al-shabab get its weapons from? How come dead bodies turn up on mogadishu as a public displays in the streets of daynile, suqa holahaa, yaqshid etc. lets cut to the chase sxb Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud is a Al shabaab sympathiser.

  8. Inna lillah wa’inaaa illahi raja’uun…. The enemy is still massacring innocent pple. @ Hirsi we see the problem of Somalia differently. 1)))))The Cululow’s pple don’t want a government they want to continue feeding themselves with the HARAM stuff over 22yrs.2ndly The shababs who are funded and supported by Siilanyo adms in the North in order to continue the same old lies of Ictiraaf and living of the UN over 21yrs. 3rdly the Amisom don’t want to leave bcoz of the UN $money. The solution is Somaliland must stop supporting this enemy, and Culusow must resign if he can’t sale his case to his malitia’s. Amisom must send to the safe haven of terrorist in the North to capture Ina Godane and Ibrahim and more.

  9. This is the reason why I was against lifting the embargo. A nation that have not sorted out who's who,And who has allegiance to whom, how would they react if they don't get their way. To disregard the history of this country that has ugly past of clan division and also inter clan fighting which was just yesterday not century ago, Which displace million of Somalis and left close to million death. All the sudden they're now equip to handle or receive more arms and ammunition.So it's that how the west thought they would help Somalia or need it, When we have yet to cast single vote and put a government that has legitimacy in the eyes of our population and can speak for us with authority . four-day ago this president told his Prime minister to tell galmudug they won't qualified for statehood and we know inside who was in charge the security of those weapons that was stolen yesterday. Even though Alshaabaab took over hudur, bakool, and they gaining a lot of grounds in bay, baydhabo this is more than that, And he himself knows it.

  11. Today was kind of God for s/land coz this is saving the time for as to prepare for war wig somalia
    Keep on doing the good work brovs n thanks for helping bur brovs in s/land

  12. Aun all the dead!

    Nothing else can be said.

    Let us wait what happens after the 20,000 Amisom leave Muuqdishu!

    🙁

  13. Shoking!

    Peaple of Mogadishu know who are Al-shabab members amongst them but they don't want to do something about them. In fact, as late as last week some of the local leaders headed by chairman Xaad were appealing to Silanyo and the adminstration of Somaliland to release some Al-shabab terrorists who are serving jail terms in Somaliland prisons. When you release Alshabab members from prisons, incorporate jihadists in your armed forces and drink tea with them like normal folks and compatriots, no one should be surprised that they are operating with impunity in Mogadishu environs and most parts of southern Somalia.

    It is astounding that Hassan Mohamound declared the defeat of Al-shabab only two days ago. Since that declaration, Al-shabab are creating this mayhem in Mogadishu, they looted arms out of Villa Somalia of all places and they have recaptured Auwdinle and Hudur from Ethiopian and government forces in the weekend. Something is very rotten in Hassan Mohamud's government. No one can liberate people who surrendered their freedoms and folks who are not moved by the blood of their children. Shame on you!

    No wonder Somalia was a mess for more than quarter of century.

  14. As we have said and will repeat again that the terrorist cancer of al shabaab is not finished, they might be down but certainly not out and will certainly be back with a big bang if one meaningful peaceful settlement is not offered.

    This City State of Mogadishu (CSM) should seriously reconsider their political strategy and focus in supporting functioning/emerging regions within Somalia and not exclusively consolidating international support in Mogadishu alone. Unfortunately I see history repeating itself again and the frustration of northerners and other regions will only but grow against the City State of Mogadishu (CSM).

    This President of Mogadishu, not Somalia and who is dependent on 17,000 AU troops and at the cost of USD$2,000 per month is only a mere replicator of Kabul in 2002.

  15. I thought this will never happen again in Mogadishu? I thought we were told all Somalis everywhere should move to Mogadishu because it's so peaceful that Lido beach is now open after years of lawlessness.

    I do not think this please called Somalia will exist a day without the foreign armed force, look what had happened to Huddur, just the moment the Ethiopian army left the town, the so-called Somali government soldiers run after them and the town was retaken by the criminal called ALshetan.

    Please, let us call a spade a spade and let us called Somalia what it is. it is a failed state and still is.

    • You started your mumbling again lol. Mogadishu is not like Hargeisa a dusty poverty nameless village, Mogadishu is a financial hub one of the largest economy city in the world and one of the wealthiest in African.

      • If you really believe that Hargeisa is a very dirty and dusty and poverty redden city, then why don't you and your cronies leave our dusty city and people alone? We do not want to be part of idiot like you and give as a peace and live with your pirates and criminal thugs which you guys are known for.We are called Somaliland, can you leave as alone?

        • looooooool I should be asking you that. why can't you delusional Isaaq folks leave the SSC people alone?

    • Don't worry, once we put all of you terrorists Al-shabaab founders in guantanamo, Mogadishu and the rest of Somalia will be fine. We in the process of that, and the IC too, now that they are exposing you.

  17. sahra,

    well said, even those weapon stolen from villa moryaan are on the market in Bakaraha. also yesterday Hargeisa council get good warning from IC stop supporting terror network or tanks will roll in.

  19. I was in Mogadishu last week, people who think suicide attack make Al Shabaab powerful are dead wrong. Suicide bombings can happen anywhere even in America where they boast of the best Intelligence Network, not forgetting Israel. In Mogadishu I moved without a body armour unlike previous years of my visit as a journalist.
    I dare say, those are isolated events, even in Jannale, I didnt need a body armour, so Somalis shpuld join and ask the youth to return. Problem is because UN and Somali gov't havent established centralised mechanism of rehabilitating Al Shabaab deserters, even those that are still active melt into the population and plot suicide missions

    • Thanks for highlighting the truth. The separatists Is@@q (Al-shaabtrib supporters) based in Hargeysa, Berbera and Burao are happy to see such terrorists attacks in Mogadishu. The leader of Al-shabaab and 5 of the top 7 men of Al-shabaab hail from their tribe. The International community knows it and warned their (Somaliland government) leaders. They claim Somaliland to be the wishes of the people, but ignore that the only tribe that supports the so called ''Somaliland'' is only their tribe.

    • Thanks for highlighting the truth. The separatists Isaaq tribe (Al-shaabtrib supporters) based in Hargeysa, Berbera and Burao are happy to see such terrorists attacks in Mogadishu. The leader of Al-shabaab and 5 of the top 7 men of Al-shabaab hail from their tribe. The International community knows it and warned their (Somaliland government) leaders. They claim Somaliland to be the wishes of the people, but ignore that the only tribe that supports the so called ''Somaliland'' is only their tribe.

  20. Somalilanders, Our brothers and sisters in the south want us to join them. Sure, why not, all the killing, corruption and everything wrong that is going on in the south is not a big deal.

    They want to destroy THE BEST KEPT SECRET (Somaliland) the way they have destroyed the south.

    Acuudu billah min al shaydani al rajiim.

  21. Reading some comment suggest to me we've got some uneducated fools that got access to internet.

    Let me tell you this sorts of things can and is happening even in the 1st world what i'm surprised is that this is not happening several times a weak in Mogadishu but instead once every blue moon.

    If you know anything you should know that when a guerrilla movement starts to result to bombing instead of attacking with men/woman means that they're losing the battle Shabaab still have some sympathizers in Mogadishu it might take a bit of time but the few left will be found.