A governor lost his life in Somalia on the morning of Wednesday, March 25, together with two of his bodyguards in an explosion in Somalia.
According to a report by Garowe Online, a news organisation based in Somalia, the governor, Abdullahi Diriye, who also served as the District Commissioner of Ras Kamboni, was under the protection of Kenya Defence Forces.
The attack was reportedly targeted at the KDF troops in Somalia and had been planted by Al Shabaab militants.
The governor passed away on the spot while his driver and bodyguard succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment at the local hospital. Their vehicle ran over an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
The publication also noted that some KDF officers sustained injuries in the incident. It was not clear where the motorcade was headed.
Another publication, Anadolu Agency, indicated that Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack claiming five lives.
"A landmine targeted a vehicle carrying Ras Kamboni District Commissioner Abdullahi Diriye. He and three of his bodyguards and his driver were killed in the attack,” the publication quoted Guled Abdirahman, a police official in Lower Juba region.
Our numerous calls to KDF's public affairs officers seeking a response on the matter, however, went unanswered.
KDF has been playing a role in the reclamation of Jubaland which had been taken over by Al-Shabaab militia. They successfully reclaimed the land in 2011 in collaboration with Ras Kamboni Brigade.
The troops continue to patrol the land which is now run by former Ras Kamboni Brigade commander, Ahmed Madobe.
KDF has made huge strides in Somalia including the establishment of the first Somali National Army (SNA) base.
KDF is reportedly seeking to exit Somalia in 2021.
