In a tragic turn of events a suicide bomber struck a café adjacent to the General Kaahiye Police Academy in Mogadishu Somalia. The blast (which occurred on October 17th) resulted in seven fatalities and six injuries among officers and civilians who were enjoying their tea.
Al-Shabab‚ an organization with ties to al-Qaeda‚ took credit for the attack through a statement on its affiliate website. The group has a history of carrying out similar actions in the region.
Local resident Mohamed Ali recounted the incident: “The café was full of people enjoying their tea and then everything was chaos.“ A paramedic at Madina Hospital mentioned that they were “working to rehabilitate the wounded many of whom sustained severe injuries“
This attack comes on the heels of another incident roughly two months ago‚ where 37 people lost their lives on a public beach in Mogadishu. The timing is significant as Somalia is in the process of assuming security responsibilities from foreign troops deployed under the African Transition Mission: whose mandate is set to expire in about two months
The recent violence underscores the challenges Somalia faces as it prepares to take full control of its security. With the departure of foreign troops looming‚ the country must grapple with ongoing threats from militant groups while striving to maintain stability and protect its citizens