Somalia government spokesman wounded in blast in capital: Reports | News

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Explosion on a Mogadishu road was caused by a suicide bomber targetting Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu, who was rushed to hospital.

Somalia’s government spokesperson was wounded on Sunday in an explosion in the capital suspected to have been set off by a suicide bomber, state-run media reported.

A photographer at the scene of the explosion reported seeing body parts lying on the ground outside the house of Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu, who was rushed to a hospital.

State-run Somali National News Agency said the blast at a junction of a Mogadishu road was from a suicide bomber.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack.

Al-Shabab – an al-Qaeda-linked armed group fighting to overthrow the country’s UN-backed government – often claims responsibility for attacks around Somalia.

Somalia’s allies and international observers have also expressed alarm over an escalating power struggle between the country’s president and prime minister.

Soldiers loyal to Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble gathered on the streets in December.

The show of force came after President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, better known as Farmaajo, announced the suspension of Roble’s powers for suspected corruption, a move the prime minister described as a coup attempt.

 

BREAKING: Loud explosion heard in #Mogadishu, #Somalia. Initial reports say that Mohamed Moalimuu, the spokesperson of the #Somalia Govt and senior Media Adviser to the Prime Minister, is reportedly targeted, wounded. pic.twitter.com/FBgtYfFmrg

— Morad News (@MoradNews) January 16, 2022