Somali president declares three days of national mourning following deadly blast
Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi ‘Farmajo’ has declared three days of national mourning following Saturday’s deadly bombing that killed scores of people in the capital, Mogadishu.
"We will observe 3 days of mourning for innocent victims, flags will be flown at half-mast. Time to unite & pray together. Terror won't win"
— Villa Somalia (@TheVillaSomalia) October 14, 2017
An official death toll from the blast had not been released by the time of this publication, but figures are estimated to be more than 20.
The car bomb exploded on Saturday evening in a busy street in the center of the city, a blast our reporter based there describes as the biggest he’s heard in years.
Following that blast, President Farmajo joined other residents in donating blood to aid the victims, as emergency services worked around the clock to assist the injured.
Pres @M_Farmaajo among 100s of people who donated blood for victims of Saturday's deadly truck bomb, z biggest to rock #Somalia in years. pic.twitter.com/o93jBqtiTN
— Abdulaziz (@AbdulBillowAli) October 15, 2017
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, though jihadist group al-Shabaab has carried out several attacks in the country.
The militants have waged a near-decade war in the Horn of African nation, seeking to topple the government and install a strict sharia-based system of governance.
The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.
President Farmajo earlier this year gave the militants a window period to surrender and abandon their terror acts, warning that he would crash the group soon.
Even though concerted efforts to defeat the terror group have pushed it out of its major strongholds, it continues to stage attacks in various parts of the country.
