At least six people were killed and 10 others injured on Saturday in separate bomb explosions in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu and the town of Jowhar in the Middle Shabelle region, according to police and witnesses.
In Mogadishu, a car rigged with explosives detonated near the National Theatre, approximately one kilometer from the president’s office. The blast killed five people and injured seven others, according to two police officers who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the press.
“The explosion was powerful and caused significant damage to nearby buildings,” one of the officers said. “We are still investigating the full extent of the casualties and damage.”
In a separate incident in Jowhar, a bomb planted in a livestock market killed one person and injured three civilians, Jowhar police commander Bashir Hassan told reporters at a press conference.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks. However, the Islamist militant group al Shabaab frequently carries out bombings and gun attacks in Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia in its long-standing campaign to topple the country’s central government and establish rule based on its strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law.
The attacks come as Somalia continues to grapple with ongoing security challenges and political instability. The country has been struggling to rebuild after decades of civil war and the persistent threat of al Shabaab, which controls large parts of southern and central Somalia.
Somalia’s government, backed by African Union peacekeepers and international partners, has made some progress in recent years in pushing back al Shabaab, but the group remains capable of carrying out deadly attacks in urban areas.
REUTERS
