(02-02-24) MOGADISHU (Halqabsi News) — A deadly assault by Al-Shabaab militants on the road connecting Balcad and Jowhar in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region on Friday left at least seven people dead or injured, with further casualties feared. The attack, which occurred on the Qad Sidat route, marks a significant escalation in violence along a key transportation corridor that had seen improved security in recent months.
The militants ambushed a minibus on the Qad Sidat route, a vital artery for local transportation, setting the vehicle on fire and causing severe casualties among the passengers. Several individuals were abducted and taken into nearby forests by the attackers, signalling a distressing increase in the group’s activities in the area.
The assault occurred amidst the villages of Qalimow and Elelka-Geelow, starkly illustrating the perilous resurgence of militant operations along this essential route. Eyewitnesses recounted the terror of the ambush, describing how the minibus was intercepted under a barrage of gunfire, leading to a tragic halt that claimed the lives of passengers, including the driver.
To date, detailed accounts of the fatalities and injuries remain scant, as official sources have yet to release comprehensive figures. The silence from the Hirshabeelle local administration has amplified the unease among the community, leaving many questions unanswered.
This incident disrupts a period of relative tranquillity on the strategic road, previously bolstered by the Somali government’s intensified crackdown on Al-Shabaab over the past year. The attack not only rekindles public fear but also casts doubt on the effectiveness of the enhanced security measures that had been credited with the recent calm.
The resurgence of militant operations poses a formidable challenge to the Somali government’s counter-extremism efforts. It underscores the ongoing struggle against entities keen on exploiting vulnerabilities to instigate terror and disrupt societal order.
Halqabsi News
