(07-06-23) DOOLOW — The Ethiopian military base located in the Somali town of Doolow was shaken by two strong explosions on Wednesday. The extremist group, Al-Shabaab, has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it deployed two suicide bombers in a brazen offensive on the base.
The military facility, situated 2-3km east of Doolow town in the Gedo region, came under attack around 10 am local time. The blasts reverberated throughout the region, with their echoes heard far beyond the immediate area, spreading a wave of unease among local residents.
Early reports suggest that the initial explosion resulted from a vehicle laden with explosives driving into the camp. At the same time, the second was believed to be a suicide bomber equipped with an explosives-packed jacket. The chaotic scene was soon followed by a barrage of heavy gunfire, the source of which remains unclear. Witnesses are unable to confirm if armed assailants entered the base following the blasts, or if the gunfire was a response from the existing Ethiopian troops stationed there.
This audacious strike transpired just hours after Jubaland’s President Ahmed Madobe instated a new administration in the Gedo region, replacing the former leadership which held allegiance to the previous President Farmaajo.
While casualties and further repercussions of the attack are yet to be ascertained, the incident underlines the persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab to the fragile security situation in Somalia, and the region’s ongoing struggle against the scourge of extremist violence.
