Al-Shabaab has been stepping up a campaign of assassinations against
officials and anyone else associated with the Federal government in and around Mogadishu
over the last 24-hours, according to local media reports.
In one attack, a senior Intelligence officer was shot dead along with
his three bodyguards near the popular Jazira beach. Reports say he was the head
of intelligence service for that area.
Meanwhile a senior official of the Banadir regional administration
survived a car bomb.
Elsewhere, a female trader was shot dead by unknown gunmen near the
Bakara market. No motive has been established.
Earlier this week, a senior intelligence was seriously wounded following
another car bomb attempt.
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| Al Shabaab attacks have increased in the Somali capital Mogadishu (seen above) in the last 24 hours |
With the onset of Ramadan, the Muslim religious holiday of fasting and
prayer, Al-Shabaab insurgents historically increase the number of attacks
against African Union and Somalia Security Forces.
For its part, Somalia’s federal government has stepped up security in
and around Mogadishu in the run-up to Ramadan; however, it has not prevented the wave of attacks.
While Analysts believe the recent attacks in Mogadishu don’t reflect
a stronger Al Shabaab, they do expose deficiencies in the security apparatus.