An attack last Sunday, August 21st 2016, in Galkayo, Somalia, left at least 20 dead and 30 wounded, as a truck bomb targeted local government headquarters, also tearing through a market, and a car bomb targeted the emergency services arriving to the scene.
The bombing, that saw both civilian and security personnel killed and injured, was claimed by Al Shabaab.
Other agencies report up to 43 wounded in the attack.
In 2015, 700 people were killed in incidents involving explosive violence in Somalia, of these 64% (451) were civilians. Though most of the explosive violence typically occurs in Mogadishu or Gedo.
The explosive violence by Al Shabaab alone killed 477 people in Somalia, of which 71% (337) were civilians. 273 of these civilian deaths and injuries from explosive violence perpetrated by al Shabaab were carried out by IEDs. Al Shabaab were responsible for all IED events in Somalia last year where the perpetrator was identified.
IEDs are extremely lethal and are seeing wider and wider use. AOAV’s Explosive Violence Monitor 2015 found that of all IED attacks, the ones that posed the most danger were suicide attacks.
AOAV condemns the use of violence against civilians and calls upon all groups to reject the deliberate targeting of civilians. States must urgently address the threat of suicide bombings and other forms of IED attacks. Reports by AOAV show the increasing use and harm of suicide bombings around the world. It is a growing reality that highlights the need for urgent preventative measures that States should establish – such as stockpile controls – to limit groups’ ability to produce these and other IEDs.
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