Al-Shabaab ambushes Somali President's convoy in Mogadishu, resulting in four deaths.

 Al-Shabaab ambushes Somali President's convoy in Mogadishu, resulting in four deaths.

Militants from Al-Shabaab launched an attack on Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s convoy at El-Gab junction in Mogadishu on Tuesday while he was on his way to the airport for a visit to the frontlines in Middle Shabelle.

Two high-ranking government and military officials confirmed that President Mohamud was unharmed. Presidential adviser Zakariye Hussein reassured the public in a post on X, stating that the president was "safe and continuing his journey to the front lines."

The attack targeted one of the convoy's vehicles, resulting in the deaths of at least four people, including journalist Mohamed Abukar Dabashe, who was inside a nearby building that collapsed due to the explosion.

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the assault in a statement on its Telegram channel, declaring, "Our fighters struck a convoy transporting Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as it departed the presidential palace en route to the airport."

Despite the incident, President Mohamud arrived hours later in Aden Yabaal district in Middle Shabelle, where he plans to stay for several days to oversee military operations against Al-Shabaab, receive updates from field commanders, and boost troop morale.

The UK embassy in Mogadishu strongly condemned the attack, labeling it a "cowardly" act.

"We denounce today’s cowardly attack on the President's convoy in Mogadishu. Our condolences go out to those who lost loved ones and the injured. The UK remains a steadfast ally of the Somali Government in its fight against the violent extremists responsible for this heinous act," the embassy stated.