Somali president survives convoy blast

Somali president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had his convoy hit with a bomb as he left the grounds of the presidential palace.

According to AfricaNews on March 19th, the president survived the attack which was orchestrated by al-Shabab militants

Eyewitnesses suggested the explosion may have killed as many as three people, however no official information on casualties has been released yet.

The attackers used Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDS).

Government sources confirmed that the president was left unharmed by the attack, afterwards heading to Middle Shabelle in southern Somalia to oversee military operations against al-Shabab.

Al-Shabab frequently carries out bombings and assaults targeting mainly government and military officials.

This marks the second time since 2014 that the president has been directly targeted.

Somalia’s Information Ministry described the attack as a “cowardly act which resulted in the death and injury of innocent civilians.”

Despite this, the Ministry said the attack showcased al-Shabab’s growing desperation as “they suffer continuous defeats at the hands of the Somali National Army.”

Al-Shabab have been especially active this month, staging a 24-hour siege on March 13th at a hotel hosting prominent political figures. Somali armed forces stepped in, killing the 7 al-Shabab attackers.

AfricaNews, Maghrebi, The Eastleigh Voice