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5 Somalis Killed, 30 Injured in Al-Shabaab Attacks, Somaliland Exectutes 6 Prisoners by a Firing Squad

January 18, 2020

 

Somali soldiers patrolling Afgoye, file, January 18, 2020	3 people killed, 20 injued, in a car suicide bomb attack, near Somali capital, January 18, 2020

 

Three People killed, 20 injured, in a car suicide bomb attack, near the Somali capital

Shabelle.net, January 18, 2020

At least three people were killed and 20 others, including Turkish nationals, injured after a suicide car bomb blast targeted a police convoy escorting Turkish contractors in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Saturday, said officials.

Somali government spokesman Ismail Mukhtar Oronjo confirmed the attack to Anadolu Agency over the phone. The attack happened in the town of Afgoye, Lower Shabelle region.

“It’s very early to say how many have been killed in the attack but what we know is several people including soldiers were killed and 20 others wounded and casualties could rise,” he said.

He also said among those injured were Somalia’s deputy commander of special forces.

Meanwhile, Bashir Ahmed, a police official in Afgoye, told Anadolu Agency that three people, including soldiers, were killed in the attack.

According to Turkey’s Embassy in Mogadishu, four staffers of a Turkish construction firm were injured in the attack.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

Last week, at least three people were killed when a roadside bombing targeted security forces guarding Turkish nationals who were working for road construction outside Mogadishu.

On Dec. 28, at least 85 people, including two Turkish nationals, were killed and over 150 others wounded in a truck suicide attack in Mogadishu, in another attack claimed by al-Shabaab.

Turkey has strong historical ties with Somalia on the principle of “win-win” relations, including over 150 development aid projects carried out by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency since 2011.

https://www.radioshabelle.com/three-killed-in-car-bomb-attack-near-somali-capital/

Two soldiers killed in Al-Shabaab raid on Afgoye town

Shabelle.net, January 18, 2020

At least two Somali soldiers were reported to have been killed and several others wounded in heavy fighting between Al-Shabaab and the country’s forces in a town outside Mogadishu.

The battle erupted after hundreds of gun-toting militants tried to storm a military outpost in Afgoye on Lower Shabelle region on Friday night, according to the local villagers.

The situation is calm this morning.

The town has witnessed such attacks in the past by Al-Shabaab as Somali and AU troops continue their joint operations to retake areas still remaining under the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group.

https://www.radioshabelle.com/two-soldiers-killed-in-al-shabaab-raid-on-afgoye-town/

A grenade attack in Mogadishu leaves at least 10 wounded

Shabelle.net, January 18, 2020

Ten people have been wounded with two sustaining serious injuries following a hand grenade attack in Mogadishu on Friday night.

According to security officials, the explosive device was hurled into a house where young people gathered for fun in the Yaqshid district.

Somali police force arrived at the scene of the crime shortly to conduct further investigations.

It is not immediately clear the main motive behind the attack and who is responsible since no group claimed the responsibility.

Armed group al-Shabaab frequently carries attacks inform of car bombs and grenade attacks in Mogadishu targeting government installations.

More than 90 people were killed and 150 others wounded following a truck bomb attack in Ex-control junction in Mogadishu last month.

Al-Shabaab claimed the responsibility for the attack while for the first time regretting massive civilian causalities caused.

https://www.radioshabelle.com/a-grenade-attack-in-mogadishu-leaves-at-least-10-wounded/

Somaliland executed 6 men, including two alleged Al-Shabab members

Shabelle.net, January 15, 2020

According to the reports, the breakaway region of Somaliland has executed six men by firing squad at Mandheera prison in the capital, Hargeysa Wednesday.

Two of the executed members were related to terror charges and alleged members of the armed group al-Shabaab.

The other four were executed to various crimes.

Somaliland enjoys relative peace since declaring unrecognized succession from greater Somalia and is safe from al-Shabaab terror activities but the region which is still part of Somalia under the international law executed first al-Shabaab member in 2016.

Rights groups have previously accused President Muse Bihi Abdi administration of human rights violations mainly on the crackdown of Journalists seen as a threat to media freedom in the thriving democratic peaceful region

https://www.radioshabelle.com/somaliland-executed-6-men-including-two-alleged-al-shabab-members/

Al-Shabaab takes over town after Somali troops withdraw

Shabelle.net, January 14, 2020

Al-Shabaab militants took over a town close to the capital Mogadishu on Tuesday, officials said, after government troops withdrew from the area.

Toratorow, in Lower Shabelle, which is about 100 km from Mogadishu was recaptured by the Somali national army [SNA] on Monday without a battle following Al-Shabaab pull out.

The town has been controlled by Al-Shabaab for many years and it serves as the main tax and revenue collections center in south-central Somalia.

For a decade, the weak U.N.-backed government has been fighting alongside African Union troops AMISOM against Al-Shabaab which still controls large parts of the country.

https://www.radioshabelle.com/al-shabaab-takes-over-town-after-somali-troops-withdraw/

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