Bomb blasts in Somalia kill six, injure ten

At least six people were killed and 10 others injured in two separate bomb blasts in Somalia, just a day after Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The first explosion occurred in Mogadishu's Hamar Weyne district when a vehicle packed with explosives detonated near a restaurant close to Somalia's National Theater. Witnesses reported seeing at least three dead bodies, including two women. The second incident took place in Jowhar, where a bomb planted in a livestock market killed one person and injured three others.

While no group has claimed responsibility, the militant Islamist group al-Shabab is known for carrying out such attacks in Somalia. These bombings follow recent high-profile attacks by al-Shabab, including a deadly assault on Lido Beach in Mogadishu in early August 2024 that killed at least 32 people and injured over 60.

The attacks come amid rising tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia. In his UN address, Prime Minister Barre accused Ethiopia of violating Somalia's territorial integrity, referring to Ethiopia's recent maritime agreement with Somaliland, a breakaway region in northern Somalia. The deal allows Ethiopia to lease 20 kilometers of Somaliland's coastline in exchange for recognizing its autonomy.

Barre warned that Ethiopia's actions could embolden terrorist groups like al-Shabab and threaten national unity. Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Taye Atske-Selassie rejected these accusations, stating that the agreement with Somaliland aims to foster regional growth and stability.

Despite the strong rhetoric, Somalia continues to rely on Ethiopian troops as part of an African Union mission fighting al-Shabab since 2007. However, Barre hinted at the possibility of expelling Ethiopian forces and replacing them with Egyptian troops as tensions escalate.