Somalilandsun: There are concerted efforts to derail the ongoing process of elections in Somalia.
This follows an attempted destruction of the Somalia parliament in Mogadishu where Newly Selected Legislators were holding their first session.
The multiple mortar shells that landed around Somalia parliament Headquarters comes in the heels of assassinations of two prominent personalities
Reports indicate that Several mortar shells hit Somalia’s Parliament building on Monday as the legislators all Unscathed were holding their maiden session whose agenda was establishing the procedure and timeline for election of the house Speaker and Deputies.
According to local media reports One of the mortar shells hit the gate of Villa Hargeisa, parliament compound within the Villa Somalia where several people were wounded, including two bodyguards attached to Wadajir opposition party leader MP Abdirahman Abdishakur, who is also a presidential candidate.
The al-Qaeda-linked armed group al-Shabab battling the Mogadishu based government for control of Somalia has claimed responsibility for the attack
The United Nations which has condemned the mortar attack also wished quick recovery to the injured.
In a statement, the UN said it stands with Somalia in its quest to complete the electoral process which started mid last year.@UNSomalia
Similarly Somalia Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble also strongly condemned today’s cowardly mortar attacks aimed at sabotaging the Joint parliamentary sitting and intimidating the lawmakers.
According to statement from his office, the Prime Minister said the terrorists are seeking to disrupt the work of the Federal Parliament and elections.
“Today’s attempt was a cowardly act aimed at intimidating the Parliament which is in the process of fulfilling its constitutional mandate to cripple the speedy election,” read the statement.
He however commended the lawmakers for the expedition of the electoral process
Somalia President Mohamed Abdilahi also condemned Monday’s attack on Villa Hargeisa, calling on the Somali people to turn their backs on Al-Shabaab and fully cooperate with the brave forces who are working day and night to ensure the security of the country.
Farmajo, also sent his deepest condolences to the family, friends and the people of Somalia on the untimely death of poet Beddel Jama Hirsi in Mogadishu.
The renowned poet and traditional elder Badal Jama Hirsi was shot dead in the Kahda district in the capital Mogadishu on Monday evening.
In his message of condolences Farmajo noted that the late Beddel Jama Hirsi was a poet and peace activist known for his generosity and patriotism. Adding that the late poet played an invaluable role in educating the people, bringing peace and building the country.
The perpetrators are still at large as police launch a manhunt for them and though no group has claimed responsibility Al-Shabab often take credit for killings of traditional elders who are involved in the political and social development of the East African Nation.
This is the second assassination of a prominent personality in Sunday as it comes a day after Yusuf Dahir Khaire (Yusuf Dhore), a well-known peace activist in Mogadishu succumbed to injuries sustained in a gun attack on Friday in the Somali capital.
The assassins who accosted the peace activist the MBC neighbourhood, Hodan district, Mogadishu shot him several times in the torso before fleeing to thin air..
