Somalia: How Mogadishu bomb blast caused confusions in FGS

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A viral video in which government Somalia government officials are heard 'plotting' to lie about the death toll in Mogadishu bomb blast could raise trust issues between the public and the state.

Somali police Chief Abdi Mohamed was heard whispering to Mogadishu Mayor Omar Filish that "don't reveal the death toll, hide it" in-camera during a press conference.

But another officer is heard from the background telling Filish that "it is 96, we have counted" in remarks that have also irked political storm.

At first, the authorities said over 30 people had succumbed to the deadly attack at "Ex-Control" police checkpoint West of Mogadishu after which the government gave "correct" figure estimated to be 79.

It was one of the most deadly attacks in Somalia, with the death toll expected to hit 100. No-one has taken responsibility even though authorities have linked Al-Shabaab militants to the assault.

President Mohamed Farmajo said: “They don’t build schools, they don’t build health centres, they don’t feed the children...they are contracted on preventing progress”.

But the decision by the administration to conceal the official numbers at first has irked political leaders, some accusing the government of being untrustworthy.

"How ironic in this clip while the police commissioner tells the mayor not to disclose the accurate figures of casualties, in the back General Bariise utters at 96," tweeted Abdrizack Mohamed, a federal MP.

Forum for National Parties (FNP) leaders led by former Presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud blamed the government for frequent attacks.

They insisted that the government has "failed badly" to protect its citizens, adding that there is need to promote transparency and accountability.

Those wounded in the attack were taken to various hospitals. The attack targeted a police checkpoint although a revenue collection office is also located nearby.

However, the police chief has defended his actions saying "it was impossible to give an exact figure and I wanted to wait until we visited all hospitals for accuracy".

While most of those died were civilians, at least 17 police officers are also said to have succumbed. A number of students were also reported dead.

Farmajo is now facing a tough moment in building Somalia with elections scheduled on December 2020. He took over power in 2017.

Somalia government is backed by over 20,000 peacekeeping troops from Africa countries. However, the US has also deployed around 500 soldiers to the country.

Al-Shabaab militants have often caused havoc across the impoverished nation, even though they have suffered massive casualties in the recent past.

This year alone, the country has lost an estimated 200 people to terror-related attacks. An attack in a Kismayo hotel leftover 30 dead in May.

Prime Minister Ali Hassan promised that the government "will do all it can to ensure those affected are given proper assistance".

GAROWE ONLINE