Mogadishu Explosion Kills Two Turkish Aid Organization Staff
Turkey-based humanitarian organization says it was targeted deliberately
A powerful explosion suspected to be a landmine rocked the Garasbaley district in Mogadishu targeting a vehicle carrying Turkish nationals and Somalis.
At least two people, including one Turkish national aid worker, were killed during the attack on Thursday.
Sources told Garissa Today, there were casualties and injuries among the Turkish nationals and accompanying security personnel.
Somali Security Forces responded to the scene to assist the injured and manage the aftermath of the explosion.
The rescue operation included evacuating the wounded and retrieving the bodies of those killed.
Al-Shabab, the armed insurgency group fighting to topple the government, has claimed responsibility for the recent attack in Mogadishu, in a message shared on a Telegram group.
The group asserted that seven individuals, including two Turkish nationals, lost their lives in the incident. It also admitted carrying out another deadly armed raid targeting Somali officials in Mogadishu.
Landmine explosions have become distressingly frequent in various parts of Mogadishu, inflicting casualties and injuries on civilians and targets.
In a post on the social media platform X, the Verenel Association, a Turkish aid agency involved in humanitarian activities in Somalia, confirmed the death of their Somalia representative, Abdurrahim Yörük, in the attack.
“Brother Abdurrahim Yörük was martyred in the bomb attack carried out at 11:30 on 4.04.2024, targeting the team of our Verenel Association, which carries out its work in Somalia within the scope of Humanitarian Aid Activities,” the post read.
Turkey has been a steadfast partner of Somalia since 2011, providing crucial humanitarian assistance and budgetary support. However, this partnership has come under threat from militant group al-Shabab, which opposes Turkish involvement in Somali affairs.
Previous attacks by al-Shabab have claimed the lives of Turkish nationals engaged in civilian work in Somalia, including two Turkish engineers killed in a truck bomb attack in December 2019.
Despite these challenges, the bond between Turkey and Somalia remains strong. In February, both nations announced the signing of the Defense and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, aimed at bolstering security and economic ties.
The agreement includes provisions for Turkey to build, train, and equip the Somali navy, a move hailed by Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre as a testament to Turkey’s commitment as a “true and reliable brother.”
However, al-Shabab, the militant group fighting the Somali Government vehemently rejected these agreements, labeling them as “unlawful.”
Other recent agreements, such as the deal to explore for oil and gas, further indicate the deepening cooperation between Turkey and Somalia.