Mogadishu, Somalia – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud narrowly escaped an assassination attempt on Tuesday when Al Shabaab militants targeted his motorcade in a bomb attack in the capital, Mogadishu. The Islamist extremist group, which has waged a long-running insurgency against the Somali government, claimed responsibility for the attack.
According to senior government and military officials, President Mohamud was unharmed and continued with his scheduled engagements. Zakariye Hussein, a presidential adviser, reassured the public in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the president was “good and well on his way to the front lines.”
The attack occurred as the president’s convoy was leaving the presidential palace, en route to Mogadishu’s airport. Witnesses, including soldiers and local residents, confirmed the convoy had been hit by an explosion. A Reuters journalist at the scene reported seeing the bodies of four people killed in the attack, though the number of casualties may rise as authorities assess the situation.
Al Shabaab, which is affiliated with Al Qaeda, issued a statement on its Telegram channel, confirming that its fighters had deliberately targeted Mohamud’s convoy. The attack marks a significant escalation, as it is the first direct attempt on the president’s life since 2014, when militants bombed a hotel where he was speaking during his first term in office.
Despite the attempt on his life, Mohamud proceeded with his plans, with state media later broadcasting images of him in the Adan Yabal district in the Middle Shabelle region. The area has been the scene of heavy fighting as Somali government forces battle a three-week-old Al Shabaab offensive.
Al Shabaab has been engaged in a violent campaign to overthrow the Somali government for nearly two decades. The group frequently carries out bombings and attacks targeting government officials, security forces, and civilians. The Somali government, with support from international partners, has been engaged in ongoing military operations to push back the insurgents and reclaim territories under militant control.
Tuesday’s attack underscores the persistent security challenges facing Somalia, even as the government continues its efforts to stabilize the country and defeat Al Shabaab insurgents.
