[Garowe] A regional minister and his son were among several people killed in the latest al-Shabaab...... al-Qaeda's tentacle in East Africa...
attack in southern Somalia, authorities confirmed, in yet another incident that badly exposes security flaws in the Horn of Africa nation which is struggling with instability.
Hassan Ibrahim Lugbur, the Justice minister in Southwest killed by a kaboom that took place in Baidoa town, the interim administrative capital of the regional state, which is about 245 kilometers West of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
Somali PM Hamza Abdi Barre slammed the attack and sent condolences to Southwest State and its people on the loss of the minister. At least 11 others, including a second son of the minister were maimed in the attack.
According to reports, the minister was targeted by a bomber just moments after he left a mosque where he performed Friday prayers. The al-Shabaab Death Eaters have already taken responsibility for the attack, which comes a few hours after twin explosions in Marka and Afgoye towns.
The two explosions left at least 20 people dead, including Marka mayor Abdullahi Wafow with the US and
...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire...pledging to support the country in the fight against the krazed killers. The al-Shabaab usually targets senior government officials, security forces, and innocent civilians.
It was not immediately clear why the Death Eaters targeted the minister but usually, they attack government officials who are perceived to be against the krazed killers. The group is dominant in rural central and southern Somalia and has been fighting to topple the UN-backed fragile government.
On Friday, the al-Shabaab Death Eaters attacked also Aato town near the border of Æthiopia and Somalia. Both sides claim to inflict heavy losses on the other. al-Shabaab holy man Fuad Shongole was in the area this week but it's unclear if he participated in the attack.