Truck Bomb Explosion in Beledweyne Leaves 18 Dead
The death toll in a devastating truck bomb explosion in the central Somali town of Beledweyne has risen to 18, according to a top regional official. The blast targeted a security checkpoint in a residential area and left at least 40 people wounded.
Abdirahman Dahir Gure, the interior minister of Hirshabelle state where Beledweyne is located, announced the latest toll on Saturday as the nation continues to battle armed groups. Abdifatah Mohamed Yusuf, the director-general of the Hirshabelle Ministry of Humanitarian and Disaster Management, reported that 20 of the wounded are in critical condition and require airlifting to Mogadishu for advanced medical treatment.
The blast occurred as the Somali government has intensified its operations against the al-Shabab armed group, an al-Qaeda-linked organization. While no group has claimed responsibility for the explosion, witnesses report that a truck loaded with explosive devices forced its way through a government-manned checkpoint, with a pick-up vehicle belonging to security personnel in pursuit. The resulting explosion reduced nearby buildings and shops to rubble.
Videos shared on social media, some of which have been verified by Al Jazeera, depict local residents searching through the debris for survivors. The devastation has left many families anxiously seeking loved ones who were in the vicinity of the blast. Halima Nur, a witness near the site, expressed her distress, stating, “I do not know what to say, all the kiosks are now just rubble. I can’t trace my niece.”
The Somali government, under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has been engaged in a sustained battle against armed groups, vowing to eliminate them by the end of the year. The al-Shabab armed group, despite being driven from Mogadishu in 2011, still maintains control over vast rural areas. The fight against armed rebellion in Somalia, which has persisted for 15 years, poses significant challenges to the fragile internationally-backed government in Mogadishu.
As the nation mourns the loss of innocent lives in Beledweyne, it is evident that the battle against armed groups in Somalia is far from over. The government’s intensified operations seek to restore peace and stability, but the road to lasting security remains precarious.