Bomb blast leaves 10 dead in Kismayo

SAWIR KEYDKA: Al-Jazeera/Hamza

KISMAYO_ At least ten civilians were on Friday killed in southern Somalia, following a wave of Al-Shabaab violence in the country, despite beefed up security in several towns across the Horn of Africa nation, which is battling instability.

Somalia has been a hotspot of terrorism in Africa, with Al-Shabaab militants closely associated with Al-Qaida, dominating several parts of the rural central and southern parts of the country. IS-Somalia militants are also dominant in northern parts. 

State media reported that the ten died near Abdalla Birole township in the outskirts of Kismayo, the regional administrative capital of Jubaland. This is the first time the militants are attacking Jubaland in as many months.

"10 civilians were killed and three others wounded after a bus they were traveling in ran over an IED bomb planted by the terrorists on outskirts of Kismayo town of Somalia’s Jubbaland State, on Friday, " state media reported.

Al-Shabaab militants have since taken responsibility but could not explain why they targeted civilians. Usually, the group targets senior civil servants, security forces, and at times, innocent civilians like yesterday. 

The attack took place near the outpost of the US Africa Command, which has since been deserted. The United States military left Somalia in 2021 following an order by former President Donald Trump, but there are plans to redeploy them. 

Jubaland has been in the fore front fighting Al-Shabaab militants, and the regional troops have been working closely with Somali National Army, the Kenya Defense Forces, and the Ethiopia National Defense Forces who work for AMISOM in the region.

A few days after a similar raid in Wajir and Mandera counties of northern Kenya, where at least 14 people were killed. Kenya and Somalia have borne the brunt of Al-Shabaab terrorists for over ten years now. 

GAROWE ONLINE