The United Nations' gradual, peaceful return to Somalia was shattered this morning as a truck full of explosives was detonated at the front gates of its compound in the capital, Mogadishu.
Less than a month after declaring the end of the transition period in Somalia and reinforcing its mission, the UN came under sustained attack from Islamic militants al-Shabaab.
After an explosion that was heard across the seaside capital, at least half a dozen gunmen, from what the al-Qa'ida affiliate calls its “martyrdom brigade”, poured into the compound.
A pitched battle lasting more than an hour ensued as African Union peacekeepers and security guards fought the militants. Most of the UN staff inside made it to a secure bunker within the building but not everyone made it in time.
“There was not very much time to get into the safe area,” said UN spokesman Ben Parker who warned that there may be news of more casualties to follow.
The initial blast sprayed shrapnel and masonry across a busy street killing at least four civilians and wounding many more. Inside the compound reports suggested that two South Africans, mine clearance experts, as well as a Kenyan and a Somali member of UN staff were among at least 16 dead. A Somali government official said all seven attackers had been killed.
Throughout the assault a Twitter account that purports to represent the Somali militants gave live commentary claiming that the attackers had killed 16 UN workers, including three Britons, two Kenyans and a South African. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was investigating reports of British casualties.
Survivors were evacuated to the Amisom military base only a few metres away, which is the closest that Mogadishu has to a green zone.
The attack comes after a prolonged period of optimism during which Britain reopened its embassy in Mogadishu and the new president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was feted at a London donors conference in May.
Earlier this month the UN declared the end of a troubled eight-year political transition in the Horn of Africa nation and appointed former British ambassador, Nick Kay, as special envoy. He said the attack would not prompt the organisation to withdraw: “The UN is here to help and we are here to stay.”
Mr Kay condemned the attack on humanitarian and development workers: “This was an act of blatant terrorism and a desperate attempt to knock Somalia off its path of recovery and peace building.”
President Hassan Sheikh called al-Shabaab a “disgrace” to Somalia last night but insisted his country had “turned a corner”.
Much has been made of the first Somali president to be elected since the collapse of the central government and the descent into civil war in 1991. That conflict was sustained by stockpiles of arms left over from the Cold War and topped up by various foreign governments including the US which backed the corrupt and ineffective Transitional Federal Government that was dismantled last year.
However, the new Somali leader was selected, not elected. He was chosen by a new tranche of unelected MPs after days of clan-based political horse-trading in a deeply flawed process last September. The fact that the former university dean and civil rights activist was an improvement on his predecessor, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, was an almost accidental outcome.
The security gains made since al-Shabaab left Mogadishu at the height of a terrible famine two years ago, are constantly threatened. Last month a car bomb was rammed into a convoy of Qatari officials travelling with Somalia's interior minister. Neither the minister nor the visitors were injured but 11 bystanders were killed in the explosion. A fortnight previously gunmen stormed the Supreme Court complex killing at least 30 people and fighting running gun battles with police and soldiers.
Less than a month after declaring the end of the transition period in Somalia and reinforcing its mission, the UN came under sustained attack from Islamic militants al-Shabaab.
After an explosion that was heard across the seaside capital, at least half a dozen gunmen, from what the al-Qa'ida affiliate calls its “martyrdom brigade”, poured into the compound.
A pitched battle lasting more than an hour ensued as African Union peacekeepers and security guards fought the militants. Most of the UN staff inside made it to a secure bunker within the building but not everyone made it in time.
“There was not very much time to get into the safe area,” said UN spokesman Ben Parker who warned that there may be news of more casualties to follow.
The initial blast sprayed shrapnel and masonry across a busy street killing at least four civilians and wounding many more. Inside the compound reports suggested that two South Africans, mine clearance experts, as well as a Kenyan and a Somali member of UN staff were among at least 16 dead. A Somali government official said all seven attackers had been killed.
Throughout the assault a Twitter account that purports to represent the Somali militants gave live commentary claiming that the attackers had killed 16 UN workers, including three Britons, two Kenyans and a South African. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was investigating reports of British casualties.
Survivors were evacuated to the Amisom military base only a few metres away, which is the closest that Mogadishu has to a green zone.
The attack comes after a prolonged period of optimism during which Britain reopened its embassy in Mogadishu and the new president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was feted at a London donors conference in May.
Earlier this month the UN declared the end of a troubled eight-year political transition in the Horn of Africa nation and appointed former British ambassador, Nick Kay, as special envoy. He said the attack would not prompt the organisation to withdraw: “The UN is here to help and we are here to stay.”
Mr Kay condemned the attack on humanitarian and development workers: “This was an act of blatant terrorism and a desperate attempt to knock Somalia off its path of recovery and peace building.”
President Hassan Sheikh called al-Shabaab a “disgrace” to Somalia last night but insisted his country had “turned a corner”.
Much has been made of the first Somali president to be elected since the collapse of the central government and the descent into civil war in 1991. That conflict was sustained by stockpiles of arms left over from the Cold War and topped up by various foreign governments including the US which backed the corrupt and ineffective Transitional Federal Government that was dismantled last year.
However, the new Somali leader was selected, not elected. He was chosen by a new tranche of unelected MPs after days of clan-based political horse-trading in a deeply flawed process last September. The fact that the former university dean and civil rights activist was an improvement on his predecessor, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, was an almost accidental outcome.
The security gains made since al-Shabaab left Mogadishu at the height of a terrible famine two years ago, are constantly threatened. Last month a car bomb was rammed into a convoy of Qatari officials travelling with Somalia's interior minister. Neither the minister nor the visitors were injured but 11 bystanders were killed in the explosion. A fortnight previously gunmen stormed the Supreme Court complex killing at least 30 people and fighting running gun battles with police and soldiers.
Source : Independent
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