This morning, top Somali officials survived an al-Shabaab attack in Laas Ga’amey in Southern Mudug. Federal parliamentarians and top regional officials narrowly escaped harm as the extremist group al-Shabaab targeted them in a suicide car bomb attack. The incident occurred in the frontline village of Laas Ga’amey between Wisil and Ba’adweyne in Somalia’s Galmudug State.
Laas Ga’amey, Southern Mudug region, Galmudug, SOMALIA. By Dalmar:
The suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED) attack took place this morning, sending shockwaves throughout the nation. Federal lawmakers Abdisalam Haji Dhabancad and Senator Abdi Qaybdid sustained injuries in the explosion. Although the injuries were not life-threatening, the incident underscores al-Shabaab’s ongoing threat in Somalia.
The suicide car bomb targeted the camp where high-ranking politicians, regional leaders, and local militia commanders gathered to discuss and plan counterterrorism operations.
Federal Somali lawmaker Abdisalam Haji Dhabancad suffered a minor hand injury, while Senator Abdi Qaybdid sustained injuries to the head. These injuries were reportedly caused not by the blast itself but by falling debris, including rocks and corrugated sheets, due to the force of the SVBIED explosion. President Ahmed Abdi Karie ‘Qoorqoor’ of Galmudug State managed to escape unharmed.
Casualties
The state media reported the incident, saying the Somali National Army (SNA) thwarted the attack. “The soldiers heroically stopped and neutralized the explosive-laden car but suffered two casualties.”
The commander of the Galmudug Dervish army, General Mohamed Nur Ali Gadaar, confirmed the attack to VOA. According to him, the attack killed soldiers from the Galmudug Presidential Unit and injured others.
Al-Shabaab swiftly claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they inflicted heavy casualties on the government officials and their soldiers. However, the group often exaggerates its battlefield claims.
Al-Shabaab’s claims
“Officials from the Mujahideen forces confirmed to Andalus [al-Shabaab’s radio production] that a suicide attack targeted high-ranking officials, including the head [President] of the regional administration of Galmudug, apostate Ahmed Qoorqoor, apostate Abdi Qaybdid and apostate Dhabancad, both members of the council of the apostate group [Parliament of Somalia], and other officials,” said al-Shabaab’s statement.
Al-Shabaab uses the term “apostate” in a derogatory way to refer to the Somali Security Forces and politicians.
Read also: Political turmoil erupts in Galmudug as President and VP clash
