Al-Shabaab suicide bomb leaves six soldiers dead

MOGADISHU - At least six security officers were killed on Saturday near Somalia capital Mogadishu, authorities confirmed, following a suicide bomb attack will also injured seven others, in the latest incident targeting soldiers who have been pursuing Al-Shabaab across the country.

According to eyewitnesses, the suicide bomber drove a car with explosives before detonating it at a camp manned by Somali military police, who have been instrumental in securing peace in the capital. The incident took place at Elasha Biyaha, at least 20 kilometers from the capital.

One of the security officers who spoke to VOA in confidence said soldiers fired on the incoming car but said the windows were shielded with metal to deflect bullets, allowing it to hit the perimeter. The incident was confirmed by Mohamed Ibrahim Barre, the governor of the Lower Shabelle region, where Elasha Biyaha is located.

Barre said the bomber targeted soldiers who were assigned to intercept Al-Shabaab car bombs. Recently, the government deployed several soldiers trained in Eritrea and Uganda within the capital Mogadishu, where they have been working tirelessly to restore peace.

Several other soldiers are currently in central Somalia where they are fighting Al-Shabaab particularly in Galmadug and HirShabelle states. Once they are through, the Somali National Army has also planned another operation within Jubaland and Southwest states.

Earlier this week, an explosion from al-Shabab suicide bomber at a Mogadishu restaurant killed a prominent Somali television journalist, Abdifatah Moalim Nur Qeys. The attack was strongly condemned by the Somali government and media rights groups.

The following day, the United States announced a $5 million bounty for information on the location of al-Shabab deputy leader Abukar Ali Adan. The group is also facing internal differences between Ahmed Diriye alias Abu Ubaida and group's finance controller Mahad Karate.

"Adan spent several years as al-Shabaab’s military chief after previously heading the Jabhat, al-Shabaab’s armed wing," a statement by the U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice program said.

Meanwhile, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Friday returned to his temporary base in the central town of Dhusamareb, where he has been overseeing military and local community operations against al-Shabab.

A recent statement by the government of Somalia indicated that over 5,000 Al-Shabaab militants have been killed in the last 12 months but the information could not be independently verified by Garowe Online. Al-Shabaab is fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE