Somalia: Local minister says Hotel Villa Rose attack was an 'attempt to massacre' Marehan clan politicians

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Somalia: Local minister says Hotel Villa Rose attack was an 'attempt to massacre' Marehan clan politicians

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Just days after the attack on the Villa Rose hotel in Somalia's presidential palace at the beginning of this week, serious accusations and questions linger about the real identity of the assailants and their motive.

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Villa Rase hotel.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Just days after the attack on the Villa Rose hotel in Somalia's presidential palace at the beginning of this week, serious accusations and questions linger about the real identity of the assailants and their motive.

The attack began with a suicide car bomb followed by heavily armed militiamen firing indiscriminately and shooting those inside the hotel for almost 24 hours. The militant group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack putting the presidential Villa Somalia, the residence of the Somali president and his prime minister, as their main target.

More than 10 people including civilians and government officials died in the attack and more than that were injured, according to medics and security sources. Majority of the casualties were members of the Marehaan community, the same clan of the former president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo. According to survivors, the Marehan politicians held a meeting in the hotel to discuss the security of Gedo region amid an ongoing conflict over the border region's legitimate authority.

"Until now, there hasn't been any investigation into this attack, which was carried out in a heavily guarded area of the country's presidential palace. No official dared to speak about the true attackers and their identities," said one survivor who requested anonymity to fear for his safety.

However, the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Galmudug State, Abdi Mohamed, who hails from the Marehaan community, said that there should be tough questions on the implications of targeting the politicians of the Marehaan community could have.

"What could be the result of the attempt to massacre the leaders and politicians of the Marehaan community," said Mr. Mohammed.

He is not the only one with the similar thoughts. The former deputy director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), Abdisalan Guled stated that judging from the location of the attack, the several checkpoints protecting the area and the timing, there are indisputable factors that raise suspicion.

"[the hotel] is very close to the wall of the presidential compound. It is a highly guarded area and it is difficult for anyone to pass through or reach it, as it is a very secure place. On the other side, it is next to the headquarter of the Banadir regional intelligence command and the Godka Jila'ow," said Mr. Guled

He added: "Al-Shabaab who carried out this attack did not descend from the sky, nor did they come from the ground, but they came on the roads."

The police spokesman declined to discuss about this matter, while members of the federal parliament were banned on Wednesday to speak about the hotel attack as NISA agents threatened journalists at the parliament building for daring to ask lawmakers any question on the hotel attack.

Thus far, the Somali people and families of those who were killed anticipate responses to their hard questions as to who provided access to the al-Shabaab attackers to the hotel where the members of the Marehaan politicians were gathering.