Somali minister killed in blast
An explosion Friday in the home of Somalia’s interior minister killed him and a woman suspected of being a bomber as violent demonstrations swept the capital.
Security guards and soldiers opened fire on stone-throwing protesters angry at an agreement calling for the ouster of the country’s popular prime minister, killing two people, an official and witnesses said.
Interior Minister Abdishakur Sheik Hassan, who also was minister for national security, died after shrapnel hit his legs and other parts of his body, said Ministry of Information spokesman Abdifatah Abdinur. He was earlier taken to a hospital in critical condition. Abdinur said a dead body of a female suspected to be the bomber was found in the home.
Mohamud Abdullahi Weheliye, a member of parliament and a relative of Hassan’s, said the minister’s niece carried out the attack and that she was “sent” by al-Shabab,” an Islamist militia with ties to al-Qaida. The group has carried out suicide bombings in the past, including ones that targeted government officials. There was no immediate official confirmation of Weheliye’s account.
Abdinur said officials were investigating to confirm it was a suicide attack in the two-story, gated building that is normally well protected. The explosion reportedly took place in the sitting room.
“The walls of the sitting room cracked and blood and debris were scattered all over,” said Mohamed Mohamud, a witness who visited the site after the explosion. The house is near the Foreign Ministry and in a neighborhood inhabited by government officials and members of parliament.
Protesters blocked the roads with rocks and burned tires, while chanting “Stay Put Farmajo.” Farmajo is Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed’s nickname. They also burned pictures of the U.N. envoy to Somalia whom they accused of pushing forward the agreement.
Security guards opened fire on protesters, killing a teenage boy, after demonstrators threw stones at a hotel where lawmakers were staying, a military official said. A witness said soldiers shot a fellow soldier who joined the demonstration.
Demonstrators said they will continue protests until they are assured that Mohamed will not have to leave office despite the U.N.-backed accord signed in Uganda that is supposed to pave the way for the formation of a new government.
Protesters say the president sacrificed the high-performing prime minister to stay in power.
“Prime Minister Farmajo is the only leader who cares about Somalia,” said protester Faysal Abdullahi. “He cleaned the government. We will not stop the protests until we’re assured that he will not resign.”
Mohamed, a Somali-American, is popular with many Somalis because he has managed to pay salaries to government workers and soldiers, and has fought corruption. In his seven-month stint, Mohamed’s government has wrested large swaths of territory from al-Shabab in Mogadishu and southern parts of the country.
Interior Minister Abdishakur Sheik Hassan, who also was minister for national security, died after shrapnel hit his legs and other parts of his body, said Ministry of Information spokesman Abdifatah Abdinur. He was earlier taken to a hospital in critical condition. Abdinur said a dead body of a female suspected to be the bomber was found in the home.
Mohamud Abdullahi Weheliye, a member of parliament and a relative of Hassan’s, said the minister’s niece carried out the attack and that she was “sent” by al-Shabab,” an Islamist militia with ties to al-Qaida. The group has carried out suicide bombings in the past, including ones that targeted government officials. There was no immediate official confirmation of Weheliye’s account.
Abdinur said officials were investigating to confirm it was a suicide attack in the two-story, gated building that is normally well protected. The explosion reportedly took place in the sitting room.
“The walls of the sitting room cracked and blood and debris were scattered all over,” said Mohamed Mohamud, a witness who visited the site after the explosion. The house is near the Foreign Ministry and in a neighborhood inhabited by government officials and members of parliament.
Protesters blocked the roads with rocks and burned tires, while chanting “Stay Put Farmajo.” Farmajo is Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed’s nickname. They also burned pictures of the U.N. envoy to Somalia whom they accused of pushing forward the agreement.
Security guards opened fire on protesters, killing a teenage boy, after demonstrators threw stones at a hotel where lawmakers were staying, a military official said. A witness said soldiers shot a fellow soldier who joined the demonstration.
Demonstrators said they will continue protests until they are assured that Mohamed will not have to leave office despite the U.N.-backed accord signed in Uganda that is supposed to pave the way for the formation of a new government.
Protesters say the president sacrificed the high-performing prime minister to stay in power.
“Prime Minister Farmajo is the only leader who cares about Somalia,” said protester Faysal Abdullahi. “He cleaned the government. We will not stop the protests until we’re assured that he will not resign.”
Mohamed, a Somali-American, is popular with many Somalis because he has managed to pay salaries to government workers and soldiers, and has fought corruption. In his seven-month stint, Mohamed’s government has wrested large swaths of territory from al-Shabab in Mogadishu and southern parts of the country.
No comments:
Post a Comment