A powerful explosion hits a civilian bus in southern Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A landmine explosion left at least six people dead in Somalia on Wednesday, police confirmed, with several others sustaining serious injuries according to a local governor who spoke to members of the press immediately after the unfortunate incident.

Governor Mohamed Ibrahim Barre of Lower Shabelle said a minibus traveling between Marka and Qoryoley was hit by the landmine with at least 20 civilians on board, including women and children. So far, nobody has claimed responsibility but the governor accused Al-Shabaab of plotting the attack.

Frequently, Al-Shabaab militants target senior government officials, members of security forces, and innocent civilians with these explosives. The Al-Shabaab militants are not known for ground combat but instead prefer using Improvised Explosive Devices [IEDs].

Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Somalia Kiki Gbeho told the U.N. Security Council earlier this year that al-Shabaab continues to pose a serious threat to peace and security in Somalia, VOA reports.

“The year 2022 was the deadliest for civilians since 2017, with a 60 percent increase in civilian casualties as compared to 2021,” she said in her statement during a briefing about Somalia.

Between 2020 and 2021, a record of 109 IED attacks were recorded by the United Nations in Somalia, killing 309 people and injuring at least 556 others. The number could be higher given that there are some attacks that go unreported in the country.

The IED attacks include using vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices [VBIE]), suicide attacks using both vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices [SVBIED] and person-borne improvised explosive devices [PBIED], and victim-operated improvised explosive devices [VOIED], the report said.

Somalia has activated a crackdown against Al-Shabaab militants and in a matter of time, the second phase will be launched in the Horn of Africa nation targeting Jubaland and Southwest states. The first phase which was termed as successful, targeted HirShabelle and Galmadug states.

GAROWE ONLINE