Written by: Mohammed Omran
Marka, the capital of the Lower Shabelle region in southern Somalia, witnessed a new security escalation after a government forces base was targeted by an explosion, in an attack claimed by Al-Shabaab. The incident comes at a time when Somali authorities are continuing their military operations against the movement, amid ongoing security challenges in a number of areas where the organization is highly active.
A new attack by the al-Shabaab movement targets a government forces base in the city of Marka.
The al-Shabaab movement claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that the explosion targeted a security site where Somali government forces were stationed inside the city of Marka.
Somali authorities have not yet released official information on the number of victims or the extent of the damage caused by the explosion.
The attack comes amid ongoing military and security operations against the al-Shabaab movement in the Lower Shabelle region, which remains one of the movement's main areas of activity, despite the ongoing security campaigns against it.
Over the past few months, the movement has carried out several attacks targeting military bases, checkpoints, and security convoys in the region, using improvised explosive devices and attacks.
Armed attack on an Ethiopian military base in the Gedo region of Somalia
In a separate development, local sources reported that al-Shabaab militants launched a night attack targeting an Ethiopian military base in Garobhari, the administrative capital of the Gedo region in southwestern Somalia.
According to eyewitnesses, heavy gunfire and explosions were heard near the military camp during the attack. Neither the Ethiopian nor the Somali authorities have yet issued an official statement regarding the incident, and the extent of casualties or damage has not been independently verified.
The attack comes amid continued activity by the al-Shabaab movement in the Gedo region, which is of strategic importance due to its border location with Ethiopia and Kenya, where the movement has previously carried out attacks targeting Somali, Ethiopian and regional forces deployed in the area.
In recent years, the city of Gurbaharey and the surrounding areas have witnessed similar attacks targeting military sites and checkpoints used by Ethiopian and Somali forces, indicating the movement’s continued ability to carry out security operations despite ongoing military campaigns against it.
18 killed in Nigeria
In a separate incident, at least 18 people were killed and others injured in an attack. armed A village in Benue State in north-central Nigeria was targeted early Sunday, according to residents and local officials, in the latest wave of violence in the region.
According to Reuters news agency, based on residents' testimonies, gunmen stormed the Otokpo-Nubi community of the Otokpo Local Government Area and opened fire indiscriminately between 3:30 and 4:30 a.m., resulting in a large number of casualties.
