Somalia: Jubaland President calls emergency meeting after hotel attack

KISMAYO, Somalia – The President of Somalia’s Jubaland State, Ahmed Madobe has on Sunday called for an emergency session of the security chiefs and cabinet following deadly hotel attack, Garowe Online reports.

The meeting focused on the coordination of "proper reaction" to the terrorist attack on Medina [Ex-As-asey] hotel that killed at least 26 people, including journalists and entrepreneurs while injured 56 others last Friday.

The state leaders formed a committee to help victims of the terror attack which was the deadliest since Al-Shabab was driven out of the coastal city by Somali troops backed by Kenyan defense forces in 2012.

Friday’s attack comes as the Somali regional state is set to elect a new president and parliament next month in an election that has attracted several candidates, some from Diaspora to run for the top seat.

The U.S. State Department confirmed at least one American was among the dead and said they are working with local authorities to determine if any other U.S. citizens were affected.

President Madobe said earlier Saturday there were two Americans among the dead, along with three Kenyans, three Tanzanians, and a British citizen while the wounded included two Chinese nationals.

The Hotel attack on Friday evening began with a suicide car bomb at the entrance gate and followed by an assault by 3 gunmen who stormed the building, which is frequented by politicians and lawmakers.

The President of Somalia’s Jubaland State said one of the attackers was captured alive, while three died.

A popular Somali-Canadian journalist and founder of Integration TV, Hodan Nalayeh and her husband, Farid Jama, died in the attack. Nalayeh, 43, returned to Somalia recently to tell the beautiful stories about her homeland.

GAROWE ONLINE