Somalia: Suicide car bombing in Mogadishu June 20

Event

According to the Mogadishu mayor, a suicide car bombing targeting a government building killed ten people in the capital Mogadishu on Tuesday, June 20. Twenty other people have been injured. The targeted building - the Wadajir District headquarters - was reportedly destroyed in the attack.  Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Context

Mogadishu is regularly hit by attacks by Al-Shabaab, which continues to control large zones in the south and center of the country. The group often targets government officials and military infrastructure in a bid to topple the Western- and United Nations-backed government and impose its own strict interpretation of Islam in Somalia.

Advice

Individuals in Mogadishu are advised to avoid the area of the blast and to monitor the situation.

Due to extremely poor security conditions, Western governments generally advise their citizens against all travel to Somalia; professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.