On Saturday, 2 car bombs went off at the education ministry of Somalia in Mogadishu, killing over 100 people. The devastating scenes of carnage in a crowded and bustling area in the capital are a grim reminder of how deadly the country’s armed conflict remains for ordinary Somalis.
“Today’s horrific attack by Al-Shabaab which claimed lives injured many and destroyed properties again demonstrates the group’s unbridled barbarism & vile disdain for the lives of Somalis. AS is the number one enemy and an existential threat to Somalia. I condole with the families of the affected,” said State Minister of Somalia Presidency Abshir Axmad.
The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also tweeted a solidarity message saying, “We stand with Somalia in the wake of yesterday’s terrorist attacks in Mogadishu. Our thoughts are with those injured, and we extend our condolences to the families of the deceased. We reaffirm our support for Somalia and know freedom and security will prevail over terrorism”.
This comes only months after the Speaker of the Somali People’s Assembly Sheikh Adam Mohamed Nur (Madobobi) praised the government forces and the people for helping with the removal of terrorism in the areas of Hiiran and Galgudud regions and commended them for their successive victories against the terrorist Al-Shabab movement. This attack looks like terrorism is not close to being over in the Horn of Africa.
