Al Shabaab Targets Somalia’s President in Bomb Attack on Motorcade

Al Shabaab launched a bomb attack on the motorcade of Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Mogadishu, claiming responsibility for the assault. Fortunately, the President was unharmed, as confirmed by his adviser. This incident, which resulted in four fatalities, marks the first direct attack on President Mohamud since 2014.

Al Shabaab militants executed a bomb attack on the motorcade of Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Mogadishu today. The attack was claimed by the group, although the President emerged unharmed from the incident. Presidential adviser Zakariye Hussein confirmed via X that President Mohamud was ‘good and well on his way to the front lines.’

Witnesses, including local residents and military personnel, reported the president’s convoy being targeted during the attack. A journalist from Reuters noted the presence of four deceased individuals near the presidential palace following the explosion.

In a statement on their Telegram channel, Al Shabaab indicated, ‘Our fighters targeted a convoy of vehicles carrying Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as they were leaving the presidential palace and heading to the airport.’ This incident represents the first direct assault on President Mohamud since 2014, when a hotel bombing occurred during his first term.

Following the attack, state media showcased images of President Mohamud in the Adan Yabal district of Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region, where government forces are fighting against an ongoing Al Shabaab offensive that has persisted for three weeks.

The recent bomb attack on Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud underscores the ongoing threat posed by Al Shabaab in the region. Despite the perilous situation, President Mohamud was confirmed safe and continued his responsibilities. This incident marks a significant escalation in threats to the President, as it is the first direct attack on him since 2014.

Original Source: en.royanews.tv