MOGADISHU: The death toll from a truck bombing in central Somalia soared to 21 on Sunday, as rescue workers painstakingly sifted through the wreckage to recover additional bodies buried under the debris of collapsed structures.
The devastating incident occurred on Saturday when a suicide bomber drove a truck loaded with explosives toward a security checkpoint in the town of Beledweyne. The explosion that followed not only leveled nearby buildings but also trapped residents and left dozens injured.
Ahmed Yare Adan, a local police officer, confirmed the increase in the death toll from 13 to 21, stating that the recovery operation had uncovered more bodies, some of which were badly burned and beyond recognition. Families continue to search for their missing loved ones, uncertain of their fate in the wake of the explosion.
Deputy Commander Sayid Ali of the Beledweyne police station noted that the suicide bomber had targeted a bustling neighborhood comprising businesses and residential structures. Efforts to search and clear the site of the explosion are ongoing.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia condemned the attack and reaffirmed his commitment to eliminating the Al-Shabaab militants who have been waging an insurgency against the country’s fragile central government for over 15 years. He stated, “Incidents like this will never deter us from continuing to eliminate the… terrorists.”
Somalia Govt’s Fight Against Militants
No group has claimed responsibility for Saturday’s bombing, which came after the Somali government acknowledged experiencing “several significant setbacks” in its ongoing fight against the militants. Somalia’s Deputy Health Minister, Mohamed Hassan, reported that approximately 13 seriously wounded individuals were evacuated from Beledweyne and brought to the capital, Mogadishu, for medical treatment.
President Mohamud assumed office in May of the previous year, vowing to wage an “all-out war” against Al-Shabaab. Although the militants were driven out of Mogadishu in 2011, they still maintain control over large swaths of rural areas.
Since 2007, an African Union force has been stationed in Somalia, originally with a six-month mandate. However, it continues to operate on the ground. United Nations resolutions have called for the African Union Transition in Somalia (ATMIS) force to be fully withdrawn by the end of the following year, with security responsibilities transitioning to the Somali army and police. However, this transition has proven to be a significant challenge.
Somalia initiated a major offensive against Al-Shabaab in August of the previous year, partnering with local clan militias in an operation supported by ATMIS forces and US airstrikes. Despite some successes, the government has faced obstacles and has requested a 90-day delay in the planned withdrawal of 3,000 ATMIS troops by the end of September, citing several significant setbacks since late August.
