Africa

Mogadishu market fire kills one, Al-Shabaab blamed

A fire at the Bakara Market in Mogadishu, Somalia, on March 10, 2024. (Photo: X/ SNTV)

By Abdirahman Khalif | Sunday, March 10, 2024

Mohamed Ahmed, the deputy head of security of the region, pointed the finger at the militant group Al-Shabaab, citing their involvement as a hindrance to progress and prosperity.

A security official in Somalia has blamed Al-Shabaab terrorists for a market fire in Mogadishu that killed one man and destroyed hundreds of electronic and food stores.

An inferno tore through part of Bakara Market early Sunday morning after originating in commercial buildings within the Abdale Shideye market, traders said, adding it extended to the road connecting the Somtel building.

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Before it was put out, a distraught mother who lost her shop in the incident said, "The fire is still raging, consuming everything in its path."

A fire at the Bakara Market in Mogadishu, Somalia, on March 10, 2024. (Photo: X/ SNTV)

The gravity of the situation was confirmed by Yusuf Hussein, leader of the Banadir Region, and Mohamed Ahmed, the deputy head of security of the region, who promptly arrived at the scene and assessed the damage.

"The victim was a watchman who was manning this area," Mohamed said in an address to the media.

He attributed the fire to a bomb deliberately planted in the vicinity and pointed the finger at Al-Shabaab, citing their involvement as a hindrance to progress and prosperity.

Mohamed assured heightened security in the area and stressed the need for a thorough investigation to ascertain the full extent of the damage and identify the perpetrator(s).

Bakara Market, a bustling hub of commerce and community in Mogadishu, stands as a symbol of resilience in the face of adversity.

A fire engulfed part of this market on January 23, 2024.