2015 Garowe attack

Last updated
2015 Garowe attack
Part of the Somali Civil War (2009–present)
Somalia-CIA WFB Map.png
Location of Garowe in Somalia
Location Garowe, Puntland, Somalia
Coordinates 8°24′N48°29′E / 8.400°N 48.483°E / 8.400; 48.483 Coordinates: 8°24′N48°29′E / 8.400°N 48.483°E / 8.400; 48.483
Date20 April 2015 (UTC+03:00)
Attack type
Bombing
WeaponsRemote control bomb
Deaths7-10
Injured8
Perpetrators Al-Shabaab

The 2015 Garowe attack was a bombing of a UN van in Garowe, Puntland, Somalia. Between 7 and 10 people were killed, including the attacker and four UNICEF workers. The Al-Shabaab militant group claimed responsibility for the blast. The Puntland administration subsequently appointed a governmental committee to probe the circumstances surrounding the attack, and apprehended over a dozen suspects.

Contents

Overview

On 20 April 2015, militants planted a bomb in a UN van in the northeastern city of Garowe, the administrative capital of the autonomous Puntland regional state of Somalia. According to police Colonel Ali Salad, at least seven workers were killed in the ensuing blast, including three Somali nationals, two Kenyans, one Afghan and one Ugandan. Four of the slain officials were UNICEF workers. [1] Police commander Ahmed Abdullahi Samatar suggested that the attacker was among the dead. [2] Additionally, UN Special Representative for Somalia Nicholas Kay indicated that two guards were among the dead. [3] Unconfirmed witness reports suggested that 10 people died. [2] Four Somali nationals, one American, one Sierra Leonean, one Kenyan and one Ugandan were also injured. Police officer Yusuf Ali indicated that the explosive device was lodged under a seat in the vehicle and detonated via remote control. [1]

The Al-Shabaab militant group later claimed responsibility for the attack through its radio station. [1] President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, [4] Ambassador Kay, [5] and Puntland Vice President Abdihakim Abdullahi Haji Omar all condemned the bombing and sent their condolences to the families of the deceased. [6] Mohamud also suggested that such attacks against small, soft targets demonstrated that Al-Shabaab was near its end, and urged vigilance and cooperation with the Puntland security forces to ensure that the nationwide reconstruction and development process continued unabated. [4] Omar likewise described the blast as futile and indicated that it would not derail the region's stability. The Puntland administration subsequently appointed a five-member governmental committee to probe the circumstances surrounding the attack. [6]

On 25 April, Puntland police apprehended over a dozen individuals in connection with the UN van attack. According to Nugal province commander Colonel Ahmed Abdullahi Samatar, the suspects were being interrogated at the police headquarters. He also indicated that the results of the probe had been entrusted to an oversight committee, that the security situation was stable, and that new community policing centers were scheduled to be established. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

Politics of Somalia

The politics of Somalia takes place in a framework of federal parliamentary representative democratic republic. According to the Constitution of Somalia, the President of Somalia is head of state, and Prime Minister as head of government who is appointed by the President with the parliament's approval.

Galmudug Autonomous region in somalia

Galmudug, officially Galmudug State, is a Federal Member State in central Somalia, with its capital at Dhusamareb. It is bordered to the north by the Puntland state, to the west by the Somali Region in Ethiopia, to the east by Indian Ocean and to the south by Hirshabelle state.

Al-Shabaab (militant group) Somalia-based cell of the militant Islamist group al-Qaeda

Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen, more commonly known as al-Shabaab, is a terrorist, jihadist fundamentalist group based in East Africa. In 2012, it pledged allegiance to the militant Islamist organization Al-Qaeda. In February 2012, some of the group's leaders quarreled with Al-Qaeda over the union, and quickly lost ground. Al-Shabaab's troop strength was estimated at 7,000 to 9,000 militants in 2014. As of 2015, the group has retreated from the major cities; however, al-Shabaab still controls large parts of the rural areas.

2008 Hargeisa–Bosaso bombings

The Hargeisa–Bosaso bombings occurred on October 29, 2008, when six suicide bombers attacked in coordinated car bombings targets in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, and the Puntland port of Bosaso, both in northern Somalia. The bombings killed at least 30 people.

Omar Sharmarke former Prime Minister of Somalia (2009-2010) and (2014-2017)

Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, popularly known as Omar Sharmarke, is a Somali diplomat and politician. From 2009 to 2010, he was the Prime Minister of Somalia. He subsequently briefly served as Somalia's Ambassador to the United States in 2014. In December 2014, Sharmarke was reappointed Prime Minister of Somalia. His term ended on 1 March 2017 and was replaced by Hassan Ali Khaire.

Abdiweli Gaas President of Puntland; former Prime Minister of Somalia

Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas, also known as Abdiweli Gaas, is a Somali American professor, economist and politician. He served as the Prime Minister of Somalia from June 2011 to October 2012, and briefly afterwards as an MP in the newly formed Federal Parliament. During his time as Premier, Ali is credited with having devised the formal "Roadmap for the End of Transition", a political process that provided clear benchmarks leading toward the establishment of permanent democratic institutions in the country. On 8 January 2014, he was elected the 5th President of Puntland.

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud President of Somalia; PDP Chairman; educator; civic, academic, and political activist

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is a Somali politician. He is currently the chairman of largest political aggregation party which have majority of parliament in both chambers Union for Peace and Development Party, He was the 8th President of Somalia from 16 September 2012 until 16 February 2017. A civil and political activist, Mohamud was previously a university professor and dean. He is also the founder and Chairman of the Peace and Development Party (PDP). In April 2013, Mohamud was named to the Time 100, TIME magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. His efforts at advancing national reconciliation, anti-corruption measures, and socio-economic and security sector reforms in Somalia were cited as reasons for the selection.

2014 timeline of the War in Somalia

This is a 2014 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).

Saado Ali Warsame Somali singer-songwriter and politician

Saado Ali Warsame was a Somali-American singer-songwriter and politician. She served as a lawmaker in the Federal Parliament of Somalia. A prominent figure in traditional Somali music, her art and legislative work were centered on political and social justice. She was killed by Islamists in Mogadishu

Operation Indian Ocean

Operation Indian Ocean was a joint military operation between the Somali military, AMISOM and the United States military against the Al-Shabaab militant group in southern Somalia. It officially began in August 2014.

2015 timeline of the War in Somalia

This is a 2015 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).

2015 Central Hotel attack attack on the Central Hotel in Mogadishu

On 20 February 2015, Al-Shabaab militants launched a surprise attack on the Central Hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia, where various Federal Government of Somalia officials had gathered for Friday prayers at the compound's mosque. Between 11 and 25 people were killed, including the suicide bomber, local deputy mayor and two MPs. The Federal Cabinet subsequently announced the formation of a security committee to probe the circumstances surrounding the attack, as well as a ministerial committee to follow up on the situation. Security forces thereafter apprehended a number of suspects, and deployed more police and soldiers onto the city's main roads.

Makka al-Mukarama hotel attack

On 27 March 2015, Al-Shabaab militants launched an attack on the Makka al-Mukarama hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia. The siege ended a few hours later on 28 March, after a special forces unit of the Somali Armed Forces stormed the premises, recaptured it, and killed all five of the attackers. According to the Ministry of Information, around 20 people died during the standoff, including the perpetrators, security forces, hotel security guards and some civilians, with around 28 wounded. The special forces also rescued more than 50 hotel guests. President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud ordered an investigation into the attack, and the Ministry of Information announced that the federal government was slated to pass new laws to curb illicit firearms. On 8 May, the Makka al-Mukarama hotel officially reopened after having undergone renovations.

Yusuf Mohamed Ismail Somali diplomat

Yusuf Mohamed Ismail "Bari-Bari" was a Somali diplomat and politician. He was the Ambassador of Somalia to the United Nations Human Rights Office in Geneva.

Garissa University College attack attack in Kenya on 2 April 2015

On 2 April 2015, gunmen stormed the Garissa University College in Garissa, Kenya, killing 148 people, and injuring 79 or more. The militant group and Al-Qaeda offshoot, Al-Shabaab, which the gunmen claimed to be from, took responsibility for the attack. The gunmen took over 700 students hostage, freeing Muslims and killing those who identified as Christians. The siege ended the same day, when all four of the attackers were killed. Five men were later arrested in connection with the attack, and a bounty was placed for the arrest of a suspected organizer.

This article contains a timeline of events for the Somali militant group Al-Shabaab.

Battle of Af Urur

The Battle of Af Urur took place on 8 June 2017, when al-Shabaab militants attacked and overran the military base and village of Af Urur in Puntland, killing many soldiers of the Puntland Security Force. It was the deadliest terrorist attack of any militant group in Puntland since the autonomous state's foundation in 1998.

2016 timeline of the War in Somalia

This is a 2016 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).

2017 timeline of the War in Somalia

This is a 2017 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).

2018 timeline of the War in Somalia

This is a 2018 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Al-Shabab Bombs UN Van in Somalia, 4 UNICEF Workers Killed". AP. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Somalia attack: Bomb kills UN workers in Garowe". BBC. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "At least nine killed in bomb attack on U.N. vehicle in Somalia". Reuters. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  4. 1 2 "We grieve with the UN family and condemn the horrific brutality of al Shabaab". Goobjoog. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  5. ↑ "UN Special Representative for Somalia condemns attack on UN vehicle in Garowe". Goobjoog. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Somalia: Puntland names committee after UN bus attack". Garowe Online. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  7. ↑ "Somalia: Suspects arrested over rare deadly attack on UN vehicle". Garowe Online. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.