Suicide Bomber Kills 4 People in Somalia's Capital
NAIROBI, Kenya — Jan 4, 2015, 11:40 AM ET
By ABDI GULED Associated Press
A suicide car bomber blew himself up near a moving convoy of Somalia's U.S.-trained elite forces in Mogadishu, killing at least four people, a Somali police officer said Sunday.
Somali militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the group's Radio Andulus.
The attack on the airport road in the capital killed mostly pedestrians walking along the road, said Capt. Mohamed Hussein.
Mohamed Yusuf, the spokesman of Somalia's National Security Ministry, said the government had information about the attack, and the car bomb was detonated while the attacker was being pursued.
"We shall continue preventing such attacks, however we ask people to work with us," he told reporters in Mogadishu.
The Alpha Group troops are part of Somalia's intelligence forces and often carry out operations against militants in Somalia.
Al-Shabab is an ultra-conservative Islamic militant group that is linked to the al-Qaida terrorist network and wants to run Somalia by its strict interpretation of Shariah law. Despite militants suffering huge losses in recent years, including the killing of their leader in a U.S. airstrike earlier this year, al-Shabab remains a threat. Al-Shabab leader Ahmed Godane was killed in a U.S. airstrike in September.
African Union troops supporting Somalia's weak army have pushed al-Shabab from major strongholds, including Mogadishu in 2011. However, al-Shabab fighters still carry out terror attacks in Somalia's capital and in neighboring countries that have contributed troops to the African Union Mission to Somalia.
On Christmas day al-Shabab gunmen attacked the main African Union base in Mogadishu. The AU base hosts U.N. offices and embassies.
Sunday's blast comes days after a U.S. airstrike killed al-Shabab's intelligence chief, Abdishakur Tahlil.
Somalia's government is struggling to rebuild the country after decades of conflict sparked of by the 1991 ouster of dictator Siad Barre.
Somalia violence: Deadly car bomb near Mogadishu airport
A suicide car bomb attack by Islamist group al-Shabab has killed four people in the Somali capital Mogadishu, officials say.
Witnesses said the blast was close to the international airport, where African Union troops, UN staff and several Western embassies are based.
Plumes of black smoke were seen in the area and the sound of gunfire was heard shortly after the explosion.
Security has improved but al-Shabab still attacks Mogadishu regularly.
A Somali official told the AFP news agency that security forces were alerted to the threat of a car bomb shortly before the blast.
"We had information about this car laden with explosives and we have been following it. But it detonated and four civilians were killed, and the bomber," interior ministry spokesman Mohamed Yusuf said.
The attack targeted a convoy of US-trained Somali intelligence forces known as the Alpha Group, Somali police officer Mohamed Hussein told AP news agency.
Witnesses say they were shocked by the size of the explosion.
"I'm not sure how many casualties there were yet, but I was really panicked by the force of the blast," said Mohamed Waberi.
A military spokesman for al-Shabab, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Abu Musab, confirmed that the militants had carried out the attack, AFP reported.
Sunday's blast comes just days after a US airstrike killed the group's intelligence chief, Tahlil Abdishakur.
Security officials had said on Wednesday that Abdishakur was part of a unit responsible for suicide attacks.
Last month al-Shabab insurgents infiltrated the airport compound, killing three AU peacekeepers and a civilian contractor.
Earlier in December, at least six people were killed when al-Shabab attacked a UN convoy near the airport.
The AU has about 22,000 troops in the country drawn from Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sierra Leone and Uganda.
Various armed groups have been battling for control of Somalia since the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991.
UN Points to Progress in Battling Al-Shabab in Somalia
by VOA News
The top U.N. envoy to Somalia says U.S. airstrikes and major ground offensives by pro-government forces have led to the liberation of nearly 20 Somali towns from al-Shabab militants and have brought the country closer to full federal control.
Special U.N. representative Nicholas Kay, speaking to VOA, cited "considerable success" in the 2014 push against the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab. He also noted political progress in ending the nearly nine-year uprising.
Kay's interview came as regional news outlets reported the January 1 killing of al-Shabab commander Ibrahim Filey near the southern town of Kurtun Waarey. U.N.-backed radio Bar-Kulan said three other militants were also killed in the confrontation with Somali forces, but the report did not provide details.
On Tuesday, Somali authorities said al-Shabab fighters killed six Somali soldiers in Baidoa, in an attack on a military checkpoint about 250 kilometers west of Mogadishu.
Separately, the Pentagon confirmed Wednesday that a U.S. airstrike killed al-Shabab security chief Tahil Abdishakur on December 29 near the town of Saakow.
A U.S. airstrike in September killed al-Shabab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane.
SOMALIA: Banki Moon Welcomes Somali new PM
January 3, 2015
Somalia News
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Friday called the new Prime Minister of Somalia, Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, to congratulate him on his recent appointment, expressing hope that he will move quickly to form an inclusive Government, with the full participation of women.
According to a readout of the phone call provided by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban called on the Somali leadership to work closely together to “regain momentum in the political process,” including the formation of federal states and a participatory constitutional review process.
Recent gains by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Somali National Army against the Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab should be complemented by the delivery of basic services and the rule of law, the UN Chief said.
Further, Mr. Ban reassured the Prime Minister of the UN’s full support in Somalia’s efforts towards peace, development and the full respect for human rights.
Suicide bomber kills 4 people in Somalia, police say
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) -A Somali police officer says a suicide car bomber blew himself up near a moving convoy of Somalia's U.S.-trained elite forces in Mogadishu, killing at least four people.
Capt. Mohamed Hussein says the attacker drove his bomb-laden car into a convoy of troops on the airport road in the capital on Sunday. He said most of the casualties were pedestrians walking along the road.
The Alpha Group troops, who are part of Somalia's intelligence forces, often carry out operations against militants in Somalia.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Somali militant group al-Shabab is waging an insurgency against Somalia's government.
The blast comes days after a U.S. airstrike killed al-Shabab's intelligence chief, Abdishakur Tahlil.
By ABDI GULED Associated Press
A suicide car bomber blew himself up near a moving convoy of Somalia's U.S.-trained elite forces in Mogadishu, killing at least four people, a Somali police officer said Sunday.
Somali militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the group's Radio Andulus.
The attack on the airport road in the capital killed mostly pedestrians walking along the road, said Capt. Mohamed Hussein.
Mohamed Yusuf, the spokesman of Somalia's National Security Ministry, said the government had information about the attack, and the car bomb was detonated while the attacker was being pursued.
"We shall continue preventing such attacks, however we ask people to work with us," he told reporters in Mogadishu.
The Alpha Group troops are part of Somalia's intelligence forces and often carry out operations against militants in Somalia.
Al-Shabab is an ultra-conservative Islamic militant group that is linked to the al-Qaida terrorist network and wants to run Somalia by its strict interpretation of Shariah law. Despite militants suffering huge losses in recent years, including the killing of their leader in a U.S. airstrike earlier this year, al-Shabab remains a threat. Al-Shabab leader Ahmed Godane was killed in a U.S. airstrike in September.
African Union troops supporting Somalia's weak army have pushed al-Shabab from major strongholds, including Mogadishu in 2011. However, al-Shabab fighters still carry out terror attacks in Somalia's capital and in neighboring countries that have contributed troops to the African Union Mission to Somalia.
On Christmas day al-Shabab gunmen attacked the main African Union base in Mogadishu. The AU base hosts U.N. offices and embassies.
Sunday's blast comes days after a U.S. airstrike killed al-Shabab's intelligence chief, Abdishakur Tahlil.
Somalia's government is struggling to rebuild the country after decades of conflict sparked of by the 1991 ouster of dictator Siad Barre.
Somalia violence: Deadly car bomb near Mogadishu airport
A suicide car bomb attack by Islamist group al-Shabab has killed four people in the Somali capital Mogadishu, officials say.
Witnesses said the blast was close to the international airport, where African Union troops, UN staff and several Western embassies are based.
Plumes of black smoke were seen in the area and the sound of gunfire was heard shortly after the explosion.
Security has improved but al-Shabab still attacks Mogadishu regularly.
A Somali official told the AFP news agency that security forces were alerted to the threat of a car bomb shortly before the blast.
"We had information about this car laden with explosives and we have been following it. But it detonated and four civilians were killed, and the bomber," interior ministry spokesman Mohamed Yusuf said.
The attack targeted a convoy of US-trained Somali intelligence forces known as the Alpha Group, Somali police officer Mohamed Hussein told AP news agency.
Witnesses say they were shocked by the size of the explosion.
"I'm not sure how many casualties there were yet, but I was really panicked by the force of the blast," said Mohamed Waberi.
A military spokesman for al-Shabab, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Abu Musab, confirmed that the militants had carried out the attack, AFP reported.
Sunday's blast comes just days after a US airstrike killed the group's intelligence chief, Tahlil Abdishakur.
Security officials had said on Wednesday that Abdishakur was part of a unit responsible for suicide attacks.
Last month al-Shabab insurgents infiltrated the airport compound, killing three AU peacekeepers and a civilian contractor.
Earlier in December, at least six people were killed when al-Shabab attacked a UN convoy near the airport.
The AU has about 22,000 troops in the country drawn from Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sierra Leone and Uganda.
Various armed groups have been battling for control of Somalia since the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991.
UN Points to Progress in Battling Al-Shabab in Somalia
by VOA News
The top U.N. envoy to Somalia says U.S. airstrikes and major ground offensives by pro-government forces have led to the liberation of nearly 20 Somali towns from al-Shabab militants and have brought the country closer to full federal control.
Special U.N. representative Nicholas Kay, speaking to VOA, cited "considerable success" in the 2014 push against the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab. He also noted political progress in ending the nearly nine-year uprising.
Kay's interview came as regional news outlets reported the January 1 killing of al-Shabab commander Ibrahim Filey near the southern town of Kurtun Waarey. U.N.-backed radio Bar-Kulan said three other militants were also killed in the confrontation with Somali forces, but the report did not provide details.
On Tuesday, Somali authorities said al-Shabab fighters killed six Somali soldiers in Baidoa, in an attack on a military checkpoint about 250 kilometers west of Mogadishu.
Separately, the Pentagon confirmed Wednesday that a U.S. airstrike killed al-Shabab security chief Tahil Abdishakur on December 29 near the town of Saakow.
A U.S. airstrike in September killed al-Shabab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane.
SOMALIA: Banki Moon Welcomes Somali new PM
January 3, 2015
Somalia News
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Friday called the new Prime Minister of Somalia, Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, to congratulate him on his recent appointment, expressing hope that he will move quickly to form an inclusive Government, with the full participation of women.
According to a readout of the phone call provided by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban called on the Somali leadership to work closely together to “regain momentum in the political process,” including the formation of federal states and a participatory constitutional review process.
Recent gains by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Somali National Army against the Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab should be complemented by the delivery of basic services and the rule of law, the UN Chief said.
Further, Mr. Ban reassured the Prime Minister of the UN’s full support in Somalia’s efforts towards peace, development and the full respect for human rights.
Suicide bomber kills 4 people in Somalia, police say
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) -A Somali police officer says a suicide car bomber blew himself up near a moving convoy of Somalia's U.S.-trained elite forces in Mogadishu, killing at least four people.
Capt. Mohamed Hussein says the attacker drove his bomb-laden car into a convoy of troops on the airport road in the capital on Sunday. He said most of the casualties were pedestrians walking along the road.
The Alpha Group troops, who are part of Somalia's intelligence forces, often carry out operations against militants in Somalia.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Somali militant group al-Shabab is waging an insurgency against Somalia's government.
The blast comes days after a U.S. airstrike killed al-Shabab's intelligence chief, Abdishakur Tahlil.
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