This archive report was first published on 25 July 2019.
Published on July 25, 2019, officials have confirmed that Mogadishu mayor Abdirahman Omar Osman is to be flown to Turkey for treatment following a suicide attack that killed six people on Wednesday.
According to officials, who wished to remain anonymous, the mayor is still unconscious. The attack occurred when a female suicide bomber detonated explosives inside the mayor's office during a security meeting.
The militant Islamist group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that their goal was to target the new UN special envoy to Somalia, James Swan, a US citizen. However, Mr. Swan had met with the mayor earlier in the day and left before the blast occurred.
Mr. Swan released a statement condemning the attack, saying, 'It not only demonstrates a violent disregard for the sanctity of human life, but also targets Somalis working to improve the lives of their fellow Somalis.'
The victims of the attack were all government officials, with five men and one woman confirmed dead. The heavily guarded building's security protocols are currently under investigation, as it remains unclear how the bomber managed to enter the premises.
Al-Shabab seeks to overthrow Somalia's central government and has been carrying out regular attacks in Mogadishu, despite the presence of African Union peacekeepers and US-trained Somali troops.
