Al Shabaab launched a bomb attack on Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s motorcade in Mogadishu, claiming responsibility for the assault. The president remained unharmed, as affirmed by government officials. This attack marks the first direct targeting of President Mohamud since 2014. Following the attack, he was seen in the Adan Yabal district where government forces are engaged in combat against Al Shabaab.
Al Shabaab militants executed a bomb attack targeting the motorcade of Somalia’s President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, in Mogadishu. The group claimed responsibility for this attack, although President Mohamud emerged unharmed, as confirmed by senior government officials. Presidential adviser Zakariye Hussein reassured the public via X that the president was “good and well on his way to the front lines.”
Witness accounts from soldiers and local residents indicated that the motorcade was affected during the incident. A Reuters journalist reported observing the bodies of four victims near the vicinity of the presidential palace following the assault. Al Shabaab issued a statement through their Telegram channel declaring, “Our fighters targeted a convoy of vehicles carrying Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as they were leaving the presidential palace and heading to the airport.”
The attack is part of Al Shabaab’s ongoing campaign to destabilize the Somali government; however, it is particularly significant as it represents the first direct assault on President Mohamud since 2014, when a bombing occurred at a hotel where he was addressing individuals. Following the explosion, state media shared images of President Mohamud as he visited the Adan Yabal district in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region, where government forces are combating an Al Shabaab offensive that has lasted three weeks.
This attack highlights the persistent threat posed by Al Shabaab to Somalia’s government, particularly targeting high-ranking officials such as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Remarkably, the president remains unharmed, ensuring his continued leadership amidst ongoing violence. This incident not only underscores the dangerous environment in which the Somali government operates but also signifies Al Shabaab’s continued efforts to destabilize the region.
Original Source: en.royanews.tv
