Amid suspicions, Al-Shabaab claims responsibility of attack targeting Somali govt spokesman

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Amid suspicions, Al-Shabaab claims responsibility of attack targeting Somali govt spokesman

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somalia's government spokesman, Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu, has survived an assassination attempt after a lone suicide bomber targeted his vehicle in the busy Maka al-Mukarama road on Sunday, police officials said.

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A suicide bomber has targeted government spokesman, Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu today in Mogadishu.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somalia's government spokesman, Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu, has survived an assassination attempt after a lone suicide bomber targeted his vehicle in the busy Maka al-Mukarama road on Sunday, police officials said.

Moalimuu who also doubles as the media adviser to Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, was leaving his home when a man wearing suicide vest approached and blew up himself seriously injuring Moalimuu and killing at least one person nearby.

"A suicide bomber has targeted government spokesman, Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu today in Mogadishu. Moalimuu has survived with injuries and he is now in the hospital," Police spokesman, Abdifatah Adan said.

Shortly after the blast al-Shabaab militant group claimed responsibility of the attack. "The attack targeted Federal Government official and it went as planned," the group said on a social media posting.

However, there are credible reports that paint a different perspective on who might be behind the attack despite al-Shabaab's claim, according to numerous sources.

The power struggle between President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble peaked again after presidential forces stormed Roble's office on 27 December and forcing Roble to call for reinforcement of armed men to guard his office.

According to lawmaker Mahad Salad, Prime Minister Roble's allies have recently been targeted. In November a suicide bomber killed Abdiaziz Mohamud Guled, the director of Radio Mogadishu, a state-run media outlet that openly supported Roble.

"Why is the Prime Minister Roble's group are targeted," said lawmaker Salad, referring to today's attack.

As security analyst Mohamed Nur describes, it will be extremely difficult to get to the bottom of any criminal investigation and therefore there is little hope to arrest the perpetrators.

"In Somalia, even if it is a political assassination, it is simple to get al-Shabaab take credit of any attack," he adds.

Prime Minister Roble's Office condemned the attack on Moalimuu as 'odious terrorist attack' while a spokesman for President Farmajo wished a quick recovery for Moalimuu.