Mogadishu, Somalia – A bomb blast struck near the convoy of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud shortly after his motorcade departed from the presidential palace, government sources confirmed on Tuesday. The explosion, which occurred in the capital, Mogadishu, reportedly killed up to three people, according to eyewitnesses, although authorities have yet to release an official statement on casualties.
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The Somali government confirmed that President Mohamud was unharmed and continued his journey to Middle Shabelle, a region in southern Somalia where he is overseeing ongoing military operations against the armed group al-Shabab.
The al-Qaeda-linked group, which has waged an insurgency against Somalia’s federal government for over a decade, frequently carries out bombings and targeted attacks against government and security officials. However, this marks only the second direct attempt on the president’s life since 2014.
Somalia’s government has recently intensified military efforts to dislodge al-Shabab from its strongholds, particularly in rural areas, as part of a broader campaign to weaken the group’s grip on the country. The Horn of Africa nationremains locked in a protracted battle against insurgents, with ongoing military operations aimed at reclaiming territory and bolstering national security.
