Buloburde and Jalalaqsi bombings

Last updated
Buloburde and Jalalaqsi bombings
Part of Somali Civil War
Location Buloburde and Jalalaqsi, Somalia
DateJanuary 14, 2023
Attack type
Car bomb
Deaths35 killed
  • 12+ killed in Jalalaqsi
  • 18+ killed in Buloburde
InjuredDozens
  • 11+ injured in Jalalaqsi
  • 24+ injured in Buloburde
PerpetratorAQMI Flag asymmetric.svg al-Shabaab

On January 14, 2023, al-Shabaab attacked two African Union bases in the cities of Buloburde and Jalalaqsi, both in Hirshabelle State, Somalia. Thirty-five people were killed, and dozens more were injured.

Contents

Background

The Somali government, in late 2022, launched a campaign against al-Shabaab in Hirshabelle State, capturing several towns and swaths of land from the group. [1] Buloburde and Jalalaqsi, both major government-controlled cities in the region, have been hit in the past with attacks by al-Shabaab in retaliation to the offensive. [2] On the day of the attack, a remote-controlled bomb injured six people in Mogadishu. [3]

Attacks

Jalalaqsi

The target of the attack in Jalalaqsi was Nor Dheere, the Somali district commander for Hirshabelle region. [3] Two cars filled with explosives were used by al-Shabaab during the attack, with one parked near a cafe Dheere was eating at and one on the road. When the first car near the cafe exploded, five people were initially killed in the attack, and four others were injured. [3] The toll later rose to eight killed. The second car was stopped at a Somali military checkpoint, who shot at the vehicle as it tried to drive away. When the soldiers shot the driver, the second car exploded immediately, close to an African Union base. [4] [5] The second bombing initially killed one person, and six others were injured. [5]

Buloberde

The attack in Buloburde targeted a local mosque and an administrative area, and began when an al-Shabab suicide bomber drove an SUV filled with explosives towards the area. [6] The car was intercepted, and exploded near an African Union base in the town and the local police headquarters. [6] Several civilians were killed inside the mosque as well. [6] Eighteen people, including fourteen civilians, were killed in the attack. [7] At least fifty others were injured in the attack. [1]

Aftermath

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for all three bombings by January 15. [7] They also claimed responsibility for a second attack in the city of Halgan in Buloberde District on January 16, which killed the police chief and several others. [8]

By January 17, thirty-five people were killed in the attacks. [7] At least twelve people had been killed in the Jalalaqsi attacks, with eleven others injured, and at least eighteen killed in Buloburde, with twenty-four injured. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hiran, Somalia</span> Region of Somalia

Hiran is an administrative region (gobol) in central Somalia and part of the Hirshabelle State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 timeline of the Somali Civil War</span>

The 2009 timeline of events in the Somalia War (2006–2009) during January 2009 is set out below. From the beginning of February the timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present) is set out following the conclusion of the previous phase of the civil war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somali civil war (2009–present)</span> Present phase of the Somali Civil War, concentrated in southern Somalia

The Somali civil war (2009–present) is the ongoing phase of the Somali civil war which is concentrated in southern and central Somalia. It began in late January 2009 with the present conflict mainly between the forces of the Federal Government of Somalia assisted by African Union peacekeeping troops and al-Shabaab militants who pledged alliegence to al-Qaeda during 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Mogadishu (2010–2011)</span>

The Battle of Mogadishu (2010–11) began on 23 August 2010 when al-Shabaab insurgents began attacking government and African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) positions in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. Al-Shabaab began its offensive after its spokesman said the group was declaring a "massive war" on troops sent by AMISOM, describing its 6,000 peacekeepers as "invaders". In December 2010 the number of AMISOM troops was increased to 8,000 and later to 9,000. The battle's name usually includes the years, when referenced, in order to distinguish it amongst the nine major Battles of Mogadishu during the decades long Somali Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 timeline of the Somali Civil War</span>

This is a 2011 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jazeera Palace Hotel bombing</span>

On July 26, 2015, the Jazeera Palace Hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia was struck by a suicide bomber driving a vehicle packed with explosives. At least 15 people were killed. al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack.

The June 2016 Mogadishu attacks were two similar attacks on hotels that occurred in Mogadishu, Somalia on 1 June and 25 June 2016. Dozens of people were killed in the attacks and many more were wounded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hirshabelle State</span> State in Somalia

Hirshabelle, officially Hirshabelle State of Somalia, is a Federal Member State in south-central Somalia. It is bordered by Galmudug state of Somalia to the north, South West State of Somalia and Banadir region to the south, Ethiopia to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east. Jowhar is the capital state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 timeline of the Somali Civil War</span>

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 timeline of the Somali Civil War</span>

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

On 23 February 2018, at least 45 people were killed and 36 others injured in two car bombings and a shooting in Mogadishu. Al-Shabaab later claimed responsibility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 timeline of the Somali Civil War</span>

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

On 18 January 2020, a suicide car bombing killed four and injured at least 20 others in Afgooye, approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) from the Somali capital, Mogadishu. Most of the casualties were police officers protecting Turkish contractors building a road. The al-Qaeda-linked extremist group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.

On 19 February, 2022, an al-Shabaab suicide bomber killed 14 people at a restaurant in Beledweyne, Somalia.

This is a 2019 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).

On 3 October 2022 in Beledweyne, Somalia, al-Shabaab used three car bombs to kill at least 20 people.

Events in the year 2023 in Somalia.

This is a 2023 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).

Events in the year 2024 in Somalia.

This is a 2024 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).

References

  1. 1 2 "Al-Shabab Attacks Key Towns in Somalia, Killing at Least 15 People". Voice of America. 2023-01-14. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-12-12.
  2. "Crisis Watch Digest - Somalia, October 2022" (PDF). International Crisis Group. October 9, 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Nor, Omar (2023-08-10). "Five killed in a suicide bombing at restaurant in central Somalia | Shabelle Media Network". Archived from the original on 2023-08-12. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  4. "Al-Shabab Attacks Key Towns in Somalia, Killing at Least 15 People". Voice of America. 2023-01-14. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  5. 1 2 "At least one killed in blast targeting troops in central Somalia". Al Arabiya. January 14, 2023. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 admin (2023-01-15). "Explosions target Buuloburte and Jalalqasi – Somali Dispatch". Archived from the original on 2023-03-26. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  7. 1 2 3 Mohamed, Ahmed (2023-01-15). "Death toll rises to over 30 in triple suicide attacks in Hiiraan". Halbeeg News. Archived from the original on 2023-01-23. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  8. "Beledweyne CID chief killed in Al Shabaab car bomb attack". www.hiiraan.com. Archived from the original on 2023-01-19. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  9. "Hiiran: 30 killed in three Al Shabaab suicide attacks, 14 Jan - Somalia | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2023-01-18. Archived from the original on 2023-01-29. Retrieved 2023-12-13.