Jubaland President Slams Blast That Killed MP In Somalia Port City

KISMAYO, Somalia - The president of Jubaland Ahmed Madobe has strongly condemned the murder of a member of the state's assembly in a car bomb attack in the southern port city of Kismayo on Friday evening.

The regional lawmaker Khalif Hashim Moge was killed in an explosion resulted from IED attached to his car, in the first known attack waged by the Al-Shabaab militants this new year within the Somali soil, and which comes just days before the US completely withdraws from the war-torn nation.

Madobe his heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the slain MP and urged people in the port city of Kismayo to unite against Al-Shabaab and collaborate with security forces to avert future attacks.

Kismayo is located about 500 KM south of Mogadishu, the country's capital. It's not clear if the lawmaker was under Al-Shabaab radar but seemingly, he was being trailed by the militants, who have been fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed Somalia administration.

Through their proxy media sites, the Al-Shabaab took responsibility for the attack which now becomes the first within 2021 and which is the first before the country goes to an election. Somalia is set to go for an election from this month after months of unprecedented delays.

Multiple reports confirmed that the MP was killed in an explosion in his car, believed to be from a device planted in the car. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility according to militant media but did not give immediate details over the matter.

The lawmaker is said to have been one of the progressive minds in Somalia's history and who preached against violent extremism. Such explosions targeting security forces, government officials, and innocent civilians are common in Somalia, a country that is struggling with instability.

It's the second car bomb in the city for weeks. Last month a local TV reporter survived an assassination bid after a bomb fitted to his vehicle went off at a parking lot. 

Al-Shabaab controls large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia but has significantly lost some of their territories. Jubaland is mainly under the Kenya Defense Forces [KDF] which is also set to withdraw from the country in the coming months.

GAROWE ONLINE