The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Invasion of foreign terrorists
The new Somalia government of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has also been sucked into the terrorism-ridden politics of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates who are antagonists on one side against alleged Iran-backed terrorists in Yemen and Qatar on the other have all been courting Somalia for support. The UAE has a military facility where it trains Somali troops, while Turkey has also recently opened its largest foreign military base in Mogadishu. Together with the U.S troops of the 101st Airborne Division and other special operations forces on training and advisory missions, and the AMISOM forces from Kenya and Uganda, Mogadishu is a confusing collage of incongruent forces supposedly pursuing the same enemy but under different instructions.
That no group had claimed the attack by press time has led to speculation that it was the handiwork of the Al Shabaab, a Somali-based terrorist group that has over the years terrorised the country and the entire region. But the magnitude of the attack has led many to believe that if it was the Al Shabaab, then they must have had help from Al Qaeda. The group, which was said to be losing its potency, has been gaining ground owing to support from Al Qaeda and the Islamic State.
For instance, while analyzing the attack, some experts said given that the Al Shabaab has not organized an attack of this magnitude and devastation, it was likely the group executed it with some external help.
Eye witnesses said the attack happened when the driver of a truck that had just stopped at a checkpoint and was about to be searched, suddenly accelerated, crashed through a barrier and then exploded. A nearby fuel tanker made the situation worse. The explosion created a massive fireball that could be seen several kilometres away.
Divisions within
The attack also comes at a time when Abdirashid Abdullahi Mohamed; then-minister of Defense, and Gen. Mohamed Ahmed Jimale, then-army chief, have just resigned. The two who were seen as the leaders of the Somalia government fight against Al Shabaab resigned under unclear circumstances on Oct.12, just two days before the attack. Although President Mohamed quickly filled up the position of army chief, it appears, it was not enough to avert the attack. Some reports claim the two were bitter rivals even as they pursued the same enemy.
