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Al-Shabaab kills 6 staff of Somalia's largest telco in car bomb attack

The wreckage of the Hormuud Telecom vehicle that was blown up in an attack in the Elesha Biyaha neighbourhood on the outskirts of Mogadishu, Somalia, on April 28. 2024. (Photo: Handout)

By Hassan Mohamed | 28 Apr 2024

Police Spokesperson Abdifatah Adan Hassan says the attack was by Al-Shabaab militants, who have targeted Hormuud Telecom before.

At least six staff members of Somalia's largest telecommunications company, Hormuud, were killed on Sunday when their vehicle was blown up by a roadside bomb.

The police, Hormuud and witnesses confirmed the attack in the Elesha Biyaha neighbourhood on the outskirts of Mogadishu.

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Police Spokesperson Abdifatah Adan Hassan told The Eastleigh Voice that Al-Shabaab was behind the incident.

"Six Hormuud staff were today killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) attack along a road in the Garasbalay area near Ceelasha Biyaha," he said. "This is the work of Al-Shabaab, who are against development and peace in Somalia."

Hormuud issued a statement in which it identified all six victims - ⁠Hussein Maalim Abdi Weheliye, ⁠Mohamed Abdulle Wardhere, ⁠Mohamed Ahmed Weheliye, Abdikarim Osman Abdi, Abdinasir Ahmed Mohamud, and Abdifatah Nuure Abdi Fiidow.

It consoled the victims' families, co-workers and the general public in Somalia, which has vowed a relentless war on Al-Shabaab, led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

"The explosion was from a mine planted on the road that targeted the car at a time they had left our company offices in Garasbaalay and were en route to Ceelasha Biyaha where they also operate," the statement said.

"This attack comes after one on March 19, when an explosion destroyed our Daalo area branch in Howlwadag district. There were also other attacks in Mogadishu and other areas that targeted our staff and branches, resulting in casualties and property damage."

Mohamed Adan, a resident of Elesha Biyaha who witnessed the explosion, said it was huge and that it severely damaged the car.

“The Hormuud vehicle was targeted by what looked like a roadside bomb. The explosion happened as the vehicle was moving. It was a huge blast that shook the neighbourhood, he told The Eastleigh Voice by phone.

Al-Shabaab militants have previously targeted Hormuud and telecommunications companies in countries such as Kenya.

On October 27, 2023, a Hormuud engineer survived a bomb attack in which his car exploded in his parking lot at home as he prepared to go to work.

Neither Hormuud nor the government issued statements about this incident in the Darusalam area of Mogadishu.