The attack, attributed to the radical Islamists Shebab, was carried out in this locality in the province of Hiran, where a large offensive against Islamist insurgents led by clan militias and the Somali army began a few months ago.
“The terrorists (shebab, ed) attacked the city of Mahas this morning using vehicles loaded with explosives. They targeted a civilian area and we confirmed that nine people, all civilians, died in the two explosions.”Abdullahi Adan, a local security official, said by telephone.
Witnesses said the blasts occurred near a restaurant near an administrative building in Mahas district.
“I saw the bodies of nine civilians, including women and children. It was a horrific attack”said Adan Hassan, a witness.
This was stated by a commander of the Mahas city police, Osman Nur “innocent civilians” they were killed in the two blasts, accusing Al-Shabaab of targeting civilians, after being defeated by the government offensive.
The Shebabs, an al-Qaeda-affiliated group, have been fighting the internationally backed federal government since 2007. Evicted from the country’s major cities in 2011-2012, they remain firmly entrenched in large rural areas.
(Re-read Somalia: Government announces death of a Shebab leader in airstrike
“Total war”
In early July, local clans in Hiran province rebelled against the Shebab. The government of Hassan Cheikh Mohamoud, which has promised a “total war” against the Islamist group, in September he sent the army to support these militias known as the “plaintive”.
(See again Somalia: Hasan Sheikh Mohamoud elected for another five years
This offensive, which has the support of the African Union force in Somalia (Atmis) and American air strikes, has made it possible to reconquer vast territories in two states in the center of the country, Hirshabelle – where the province of Hiran is located – and Galmudug.
(Re-read Somalia: return to power for the peaceful Hassan Cheikh Mohamoud, who has become a virulent critic
The government notably said in early December that it had taken over Adan Yabal, an emblematic locality of Hirshabelle held by the Shebabs since 2016 and presented as a “training camp” and a rebel logistics hub in the region
But the Shebabs have regularly responded with bloody attacks, underlining their ability to strike at the heart of Somali cities and military installations.
On Oct. 29, two car bombs exploded within minutes of each other in the capital Mogadishu, killing 121 and wounding 333 others, in the deadliest attack in the Horn of Africa country in five years.
(See again Somalia: double attack in Mogadishu
A triple bombing in Beledweyne (center), capital of Hiran province, also killed 30 people, including local officials, in early October, and at least 21 guests of a hotel in Mogadishu were previously killed in August in a spectacular 30-hour assault in August.
