On May 8th, 2017, a suicide bomber part of the Al-Shabab group, linked to Al-Qaeda carried out an attack in the heart of the capital near the immigration directorate. The car was filled with explosives when it detonated in the crowded city centre.

The group stated that “the targets were police, intelligence, military officials and immigration workers.” Al-Shabaab was forced out of the capital and other major cities in Somalia by national and African Union multinational forces. However, the group continues to implement deadly attacks throughout the country that are controlled by Somalia’s federal government. Although the group was driven out of Mogadishu in 2011, it still controls many smaller towns and rural areas. Other targets have included hotels, military checkpoints and the presidential palace. Their intent is to force out African Union peacekeepers to, dismantle the Western-backed government, and impose its strict version of Islam. The group is waging an insurgency in Somalia.

Earlier on the same day, three Somali soldiers on a mission were killed after a roadside bomb planted by the rebels exploded north of the capital. Since 1991, Somalia has been a high-conflict area when clan-based warlords overthrew dictator Siad Barre. Currently there are around 22,000 African Union troops aiding the government in the battle against al-Shabaab.

For more information please read:

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-explosions/thousands-evacuated-in-ukraine-as-ammunition-depot-explodes-idUSKCN1C20F1
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/05/somalia-huge-blast-rocks-downtown-mogadishu-170508151811252.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26366626