Death Toll Rises To 20 in Somalia Suicide Bombing

The death toll in a suicide car bombing at a military training base in southern Somalia has risen to 20, military sources said on Sunday.


At least 45 people were wounded, including three Kenyan trainers from the African Union peacekeeping mission to Somalia.

The car rammed into the base in the southern port town of Kismayo on Saturday.

A helper of the bomber who got out of the car before it exploded was captured and shot dead, according to a military source.

The Islamist group al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack on pro-insurgent radio Andalus.

Defence Minister Abdulkadir Sheikh Dini called it "a cowardly terrorist act”.

Condemning the attack, the head of the AU mission to Somalia, Maman Sidikou, vowed that "we will not relent”.

"We will continue with the momentum to rebuild Somali national army and other security institutions until the country becomes self-reliant in that regard," Sidikou added.

The suicide bombing was carried out in retaliation for a recent government and AU military offensive against the insurgent group, al-Shabaab commander Sheikh Abdirahman Hudeyfa told dpa.