MOGADISHU— In a startling twist, the President of Galmudug State has informed Westeen diplomats in Mogadishu that the suicide car bomb attack he narrowly escaped last week was, in fact, an assassination attempt orchestrated by the Somali Intelligence Chief.
The explosion occurred on September 15th during an anti-al-Shabab military operation in a remote village in the Galgadud region, where a suicide car bomber detonated near the Ahmed Abdi Karie AKA Qoorqoor’s residence.
While the state leader sustained minor injuries, the blast also left a prominent Somali senator and former Police Chiief, Abdi Hassan Awale, commonly known as Qeybdid wounded.
Eyewitnesses reported a deafening blast that shattered the roof and windows of the president’s temporary home and sent plumes of smoke into the sky.
Qoorqoor credited the swift response of one of his security personnel, who used a military vehicle to block the car bomber’s path, effectively reducing the bomb’s potential impact likely saved his life.
The soldier who was killed in the powerful blast was posthumously honored with the highest bravery medal by the state leader, who hailed him as a true ‘hero’.
Speaking at a news conference early on Tuesday , the Federal State President further claimed to have evidence linking unidentified officials in the security sector to the attack but did not provide specific details during the press conference.
This revelation comes amidst a heated leadership transition in Galmudug State, where Mahad Mohamed Salad, the Somali Intelligence Chief is rumored to be the favored successor with the backing of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
The tension In Galmudug State has escalated dramatically as these allegations surface, raising concerns about the stability and security of the region.
Mr. Qoorqoor made the shocking revelation during a conference call with foreign diplomats on Tuesday where he provided details of the alleged assassination plot.
The motive behind this alleged assassination attempt remains unclear, but many speculate that it is linked to the ongoing power struggle in Galmudug State.
Salad has been seen as the front-runner to succeed President Qoorqoor and the backing of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has further solidified his position.
LONG-STANDING RIVALRY
Western diplomats privy to the discussions with President Qoorqoor who has provided chilling details about the plot have reported that he firmly believes that Mahad Salaad, a long-time political rival and a candidate for the Galmudug presidency, was the mastermind behind the planning and execution of the attack.
He recounted the harrowing events that transpired on the fateful day, when he was targeted by a powerful car bomb explosion.
According to Qoorqoor, the brazen attack was not a random act of bombing but rather a targeted assassination attempt and a calculated move by Salad to eliminate their political rivalry to pave the way for his own ascension to power.
Salad, known for his vocal criticism of the Galmudug leader’s administration, has yet to respond to the accusations leveled against him.
The car bomb attack and subsequent accusations have cast a shadow of uncertainty over the state’s already fragile security and political landscape.
The Somali government, led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has not issued an official statement on the matter as of yet.
SAFETY RETREAT
In the wake of an alleged assassination attempt, the Galmudug state leader, who had been leading the ongoing anti al-Shabab military operations in the region for months, has reportedly retreated to the safety of his heavily fortified state house in Dhusomareb, the provincial capital of the state.
Following the alleged assassination attempt, Qoorqoor who had been spearheading ongoing anti-al-Shabab military operations in the region for months, has reportedly retreated to the safety of his heavily fortified state house in Dhusomareb, the provincial capital of Galmudug State.
Meanwhile, security experts who weighed in the matter have added weight to the regional leader’s claims of an assassination attempt.
Mursal Abdullahi Kadiye who owns a security firm based in Mogadishu who has an extensive experience in the security and counterterrorism fields suspects that NISA’s Chief Mahad Salad could be complicit in the attempted assassination.
The claim by Kadiye, a long-time ally of the Somali president whose firm, Shabeel Group, once served as the headquarters for President Hassan Sheikh’s re-election campaign before he was elected as president and subsequent move to Villa Somalia, adds another layer of complexity to the already suspicious activities involving NISA Chief.
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