The attack, which the Somali government have accused to have been carried out by the Somali Militant group Al-Shabab, Somalia’s Alqaeda affiliate, targeted a busy road junction in Mogadishu where Somali government collects taxes killing almost 90 people and wounding dozens.

Turkish military cargo airplane has landed at Mogadishu Airport in order to transfer injured Somali people to Turkey for medical treatment. It also brought medical staff to support medical services at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Hospital and emergency medical supplies. pic.twitter.com/nkKra5VVBh

— Turkey in Somalia (@TC_Mogadishu) December 29, 2019

"Turkish military cargo airplane has landed at Mogadishu Airport in order to transfer injured Somali people to Turkey for medical treatment. It also brought medical staff to support medical services at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Hospital and emergency medical supplies.” Turkish embassy in Mogadishu. said in a twitter post on Sunday morning.

Ambulances were seen transporting critically wounded people from Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Hospital in Mogadishu on Sunday to seek medical treatment in Turkey as the Turkish military plane waits at the Mogadishu airport. Local media reports said at least 12 injured were transported to Turkey for treatment.

Turkey which Somalis regard as brothers and sisters help the Somali government and the Somali people on various development projects, which 2 Turkish nationals working on the road construction between Mogadishu - Afgoi lost their lives in the attack.

The truck bomb, which almost killed civilians and university students was condemned by both Somalia government and its international partners.

Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo condemned calling it heinous act of terror” and called the Somali people to join hands in countering such evil attacks.

"This dark day has robbed our nation of dozens of innocent lives, the perpetrators of this heinous act of terror will never dim the spirits of the people of Somalia. Let's join hands in countering this evil in our midst. Let’s move fast and help out the survivors.” Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo said.

The Chairperson of the African Union commission Moussa Faki Mahamat  said in a statement that "he is deeply shocked by the attack this morning in Mogadishu in which dozens of innocent people who were going about their normal businesses were killed. Among the precious lives lost were university students; women and children the very future of Somalia, as well as Somali national security forces.”

The statement further said that the African Union will not relent in the face of such heinous crimes against humanity and neither be intimidated by cowardly acts of violence by terrorists who do not want a Somalia that is peaceful and prosperous. Our support to the Federal Government of Somalia, and our mission in Somalia will maintain its resolve and commitment to see through its mandate and to fulfill the legitimate desire of the people of Somalia to live in freedom, peace and security.

- Horn Observer -