Hargeisa, Oct 28, 2013 (SDN) -Security has been beefed up across Hargeisa city on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the 29/10 terror attacks, which killed at least 30 people after three coordinated suicide bombers targeted the presidential palace, Ethiopian consulate and UNDP office in Hargeisa. Additional security personnel have been deployed at the main roads and junctions in the capital on Monday morning thus disrupting the traffic movement of the city.
Still there is no official statement from the police but source close to the interior ministry has told us that the security has been stepped up due to rumors of attacks believed to be planned around the anniversary of Al Shabab’s suicide attacks in 2008.
On October 29, 2008, At least 29 people died after Al Shabab launched a wave of coordinated car-bombings in Hargeisa targeting presidential palace, Ethiopian consulate and UNDP office.
Somaliland government has tightened security on numerous occasions after receiving intelligence reports of possible terror attacks.
On September 21, 2013 Al Shabab’s attack on a shopping mall in the Kenyan capital which resulted the death of 67 people brought international attention and widespread condemnation to the militant group.
Al-Shabab rose to regional prominence as a nationalist movement fighting the 2006 U.S.-backed Ethiopian invasion of Somalia. The group eventually controlled large parts of the country, until driven into the countryside by the African-Union-led peacekeeping force AMISOM in 2011 and 2012.
Earlier this month, the United Nations said more military force was needed to push the militants from their remaining rural strongholds.
By: Eng. Abdirisak Itaqile
SDN Hargeisa
