Hiiraan Online
Thursday November 8, 2018
MOGADISHU (HOL) – A Somali regional lawmaker was killed when a bomb hidden in his car exploded in as he drove through the Somali capital, officials said Thursday.
The remote-controlled bomb was detonated as parliamentarian Abdiweli Mohamed Ibrahim was reportedly was heading to a personal meeting in Mogadishu. He arrived in Mogadishu a few days ago from Jowhar, the provincial capital of Hirshabelle state, one of fine regional federal states in Somalia of which he is a parliament member.
The regional Assembly proceeded on a short recess and lawmakers are expected to return to work later this month.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast which also killed the MP’s driver.
He becomes the fourth regional lawmaker killed in bomb and gun attacks. The middle Shabelle region has seen surge in attacks by suspected militants in recent months.
In June, two members of the region’s lawmakers were killed along with three soldiers in an ambush claimed by the Al-Qaeda linked al-Shabab group in Bal’ad, an agricultural town, 30km north of Mogadishu.
Al-Shabab fighters have since stepped up attacks across the region, and briefly seized the town twice before government forces have driven them out, exposing the security challenges facing the local authorities struggling to secure the region.
Militants also continue to maintain an active military presence around the major highway linking Jowhar to Mogadishu, prompting government officials travelling to the region to reach there by air.
African Union troops based in the region often also receive their logistic supplies by air.