At least two individuals, including a soldier, lost their lives in an explosion in the central Somali town of Beledweyne, located in the Hiiraan region, on Sunday afternoon. The incident shocked the local community deeply.
Residents reported that the blast happened at a Somali government security forces checkpoint near the Djibouti troops who are part of the ATMIS mission in the Howlwadag neighbourhood. The area was immediately secured following the explosion.
As of now, Beledweyne security agencies and the Hirshabelle State government have remained silent on the incident, with no group stepping forward to claim responsibility for the attack. The community is left searching for answers.
Coincidentally, the explosion occurred on the same day that the African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) transferred the forward operating base in Beledweyne to the National Armed Forces. This event marked the fifth base to be handed over as part of phase 3 of the ATMIS troop drawdown. The transfer signifies a significant step in the region’s ongoing efforts towards stability.
