At least 4 killed in suicide car bombing in central Somalia

BELEDWEYNE, Somalia – Al-Shabaab militants killed at least four people in the town of Beledweyne in the Hiiran region in a Sunday afternoon suicide car bomb explosion that occurred as the country celebrates independence day, which is so special for the Horn of Africa nation.

The target of the attack was reportedly a military base in the central regions of the country, where the Somali National Army (SNA) was fighting al-Shabaab insurgents. Al-Shabaab insurgents claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Somali National Army is taking over security responsibilities from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) troops who have begun their departure under the Somali Transition Plan (STP). Nearly 4,000 ATMIS troops left last month.

In total, at least 9,000 of the 22,000 troops left the country ahead of a December 2024 deadline, but the Somali government has suggested a local mission could take over. Several foreign soldiers will be part of the mission.

Hussein Sheikh Ali, the president’s national security adviser, said the new mission would not involve Ethiopian troops, some of whom are accused of entering Somalia, albeit illegally. Ethiopia is accused of violating Somalia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

But some talks may begin in Turkey between Ethiopia and Somalia after the former signed a MoU with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia. Talks have not yet formally started, according to multiple sources in the country.

Al-Shabaab fighters are fighting to overthrow Somalia’s fragile U.N.-backed federal government, but a strong domestic force has managed to keep the militants at bay. The militants control large swaths of rural central and southern regions.

However, the actions carried out over the last two years have significantly neutralized the militants, who have lost several strategic cities. Al-Shabaab fighters have hinted at talks with the government, but Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration has not yet taken the issue into consideration.

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