Al-Shabab militants attacked a number of police stations and safety checkpoints in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu early Wednesday, officers and militants mentioned, as a present of power because the nation prepares for a much-delayed presidential election.
The al-Qaeda-linked militants are finishing up frequent assaults on the federal government and final week attacked a minibus carrying delegates.
The group’s spokesman, Abdiasis Abu Musab, mentioned warriors hit authorities targets in 4 districts of the capital and one other space on the outskirts. He mentioned the militants conquered authorities bases and seized army automobiles and weapons. It was not instantly potential to confirm these claims.
Homeland Security Minister Abdullahi Nor wrote on Twitter early Wednesday: “The terrorists attacked Mogadishu’s suburbs and targeted our police stations and checkpoints. Our security defeated the enemy.”
The losses from the assaults, which occurred simply earlier than 01.00 (22.00 GMT), had been unclear.
A Reuters witness who visited the scene of an assault on a police station within the Kahda district within the western a part of town mentioned the constructing was destroyed, together with close by homes. Local resident Halima Faragh instructed Reuters that the explosions seemed like an earthquake and mentioned she and her household fled their residence in worry.
Mogadishu police spokesman Abdifatah Aden instructed Reuters that al-Shabab fighters had launched an assault on Kahda police station and had attacked one other space, Darusalam, within the northeastern a part of town. Speaking shortly after the assaults, he mentioned safety forces exchanged gunfire with the militants and promised additional updates, however that they didn’t reply to subsequent cellphone calls.
Al-Shabab has additionally not too long ago invaded exterior the capital, together with capturing a metropolis in December within the semi-autonomous central state of Galmudug, residents mentioned, a victory that underscored how the group exploited the divisions between the central authorities and its then allies in different areas.
The newest assault got here throughout oblique parliamentary elections. The election for legislators started on 1 November and was initially scheduled to finish on 24 December, however is presently as a result of finish on 25 February.
Somalia’s oblique electoral course of requires regional councils to elect a senate. Delegates embody clan elders who elect members of the decrease home, who would then elect a brand new president on a date but to be decided.
A month-long dispute between Prime Minister Mohammed Hussein Roble and his political rival President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has been blamed for the delayed presidential election.
The Daily Sabah publication
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