Africa

Africa

Death toll from Somalia attack on presidential palace hits 11

22 September 2015 23:13 (UTC +04:00)

A government official said on Tuesday at least 11 people were killed after a bomber rammed his vehicle into the gate of the presidential compound late on Monday.

Local government spokesperson Abdifatah Omar Halane told DPA news agency that at least 23 more people were wounded in the attack.

The attacker apparently aimed to target Somali authorities and United Nations officials who were attending a meeting inside the palace at the time.

At least three foreigners, including a Turk, as well as a local female street vendor were among the dead.

Both Somalia's information minister Mohamed Hayir Maareye as well as the UN envoy to the Somalia, Nikolas Kay, condemned the bombing.

The al-Shabaab Takifiri militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Since 2006, the al-Shabab militants have been fighting to overthrow Somalia’s government.

The east African country has been the scene of deadly clashes between government forces and al-Shabab militants who have frequently staged attacks against government officials and civilians.

The African Union mission to Somalia, known as AMISOM , has pushed out the Takfiri terrorists out of the capital city Mogadishu and other major cities.

AMISOM has over 20,000 military personnel and is largely made up of troops from Ethiopia, Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Sierra Leone and Kenya.