Saturday January 3, 2026
Jowhar (HOL) — A landmine explosion struck a convoy escorting Hirshabelle State President Ali Guudlawe Hussein on Friday as it traveled from Mohamed Dheere Airport toward Jowhar, injuring several members of his delegation but leaving the president unharmed, officials said.
The blast occurred at Jiiro Carmoole, a stretch of road between the airport and Jowhar town, and hit one of the vehicles providing security for the president shortly after his arrival, according to security sources.
Preliminary reports indicate that additional soldiers and officers sustained injuries of varying severity, though authorities have not released an exact casualty count.
Mohamed Nur Shuuriye, director of communications at the Hirshabelle Presidential Palace, who was traveling with the delegation, confirmed the incident and expressed relief that the president survived.
“Thank God,” Shuuriye said in a brief statement. “I wish health and recovery to my friends who were in the car with us.”
Security forces cordoned off the area shortly after the explosion and launched an investigation to determine who was responsible. The road linking Jowhar to Mohamed Dheere Airport has been placed under heightened security, and checkpoints around the airport were reinforced following the attack.
No group has immediately claimed responsibility. However, landmine attacks targeting government officials and security convoys are a tactic frequently used by the al-Qaida-linked militant group al-Shabab, which has waged a long-running insurgency against Somalia’s federal government and regional administrations.
Hirshabelle, which encompasses parts of central Somalia, has been a focal point of military operations against the militants and remains vulnerable to attacks despite increased security deployments.