Militants attack Somali army bases as hundreds of unpaid soldiers went on strike in Mogadishu

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Militants attack Somali army bases as hundreds of unpaid soldiers went on strike in Mogadishu

GALKAYO (HORN OBSERVER) At least two Somali soldiers have been confirmed dead as dozen more others wounded after al-Shabaab suicide car bomber rammed a military base in central Somalia region of Mudug on Sunday, officials and witnesses said.

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Soldiers of Somali National Army stage protest in Mogadishu on Sunday over unpaid dues as al-Shabaab militants attack army bases. (PHOTO: HORN OBSERVER).

GALKAYO (HORN OBSERVER) At least two Somali soldiers have been confirmed dead as dozen more others wounded after al-Shabaab suicide car bomber rammed a military base in central Somalia region of Mudug on Sunday, officials and witnesses said.

Witnesses in Ba’ad Weyn town in Mudug region told Horn Observer that an explosives-laden land cruiser hit the SNA camp on the outskirts of Ba’ad Weyn inflicting the deaths of two soldiers.

According to Ba’ad Weyn district commissioner, Ahmed Dahir, an al-Shabaab suicide bomber drove the vehicle to the camp as officers were resting early in the morning.

"It was a suicide car bomb attack which targeted the army base outside the town, so far several people have been confirmed dead,” Ahmed Dahir, Ba’ad Weyn district commissioner said as quoted by Radio Kulmiye, adding that the explosion was huge enough to be heard in the area.

Al-Shabab instantly claimed the responsibility for the attack. The group’s propaganda media reported, "two military trucks were also burnt down in the bombing”.

In a separate incident, police in southern Somali town of Wanla Weyn in Lower Shabelle, said that Somali National army commander’s residence was attacked with double car bombings on Sunday causing at least three officers dead and three others wounded. Local media and military officials said the 7th Battalion of SNA commander, who was identified as ‘Halac’ had survived the explosions.

"Two explosions believed to have been planted inside the commander’s residence exploded and killed three people and wounded another three,” Mohamed Abdulle Hassan, Wanla Weyn police chief said "Luckily the commander survived.”

The U.S. military uses the Baledogle airstrip base located in Wanla Weyn to launch drones that attack al-Shabaab targets and to train Somali troops for counter-terror operations.

The al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group also took credit of the Wanla Weyn explosions.

The terrorist attacks on Sunday took place on the subsequent of protests carried out by hundreds of Somali soldiers in Mogadishu. The soldiers, who complained of not receiving their dues for the past seven months, have peacefully blocked main roads that lead to the presidential palace, hampering public movement in the Somali capital.

(HORN OBSERVER)