Somalia: Explosion leaves six Hormuud Telecom workers dead

MOGADISHU, Somalia - At least six workers linked to Hormuud Telecom, Somalia’s biggest telecommunication company, died on Sunday afternoon, following an IED explosion on the outskirts of Mogadishu, the country's capital city.

Witnesses told Garowe Online that the six workers were killed after a remote-controlled landmine blast struck their vehicle from Garas-Balay to Elasha Biyaha, near Mogadishu, but details about the incident remain scanty. The circumstances behind the incident are yet to be established.

The names of the workers killed are as follows:

1 - Hussein Maalim Abdi Weheliye

2. Mohamed Abdulle Wardhere

3. Mohamed Ahmed Wehliye (Gabashey)

4. Abdikarim Osman Abdi

5. Abdinasir Ahmed Mohamud

6. Abdifitah Nur Abdi Fidow.

Although no group is yet to take responsibility, the Al-Shabab militants are known for such cowardly attacks. The militants have previously destroyed infrastructure done by the telecommunications company, which controls the country's airwaves.

In the past few months, there have been explosions targeting Hormuud Telecom centers in Mogadishu and its vehicles that caused deaths, wounds, and destruction of property.

The Al-Shabaab militants have been on the receiving end and recently, the government blocked several companies associated with it. Besides the military approach, Somalia intends to close facilities acting as sources of revenue to the al-Shabaab militants.

The group is said to be undergoing financial distress with stringent regulations in government making it difficult for al-Shabaab to generate revenue. In response, the group has been carrying cowardly attacks against members of security teams.

GAROWE ONLINE