Presidential guards killed ‘military vehicle accident’ in Somalia

Deni escaped unhurt in the attack which was later claimed by the Al-Shabaab militant group which has bases to train and stage attacks in the Bari region's mountains, mainly in Galgala.

News Keydmedia Online
7 March 2022

GAROWE, Somalia - At least 6 soldiers have lost their lives and several others sustained wounds in a fatal road accident in Somalia’s Puntland regional states on Monday, authorities said.

The soldiers who were part of special forces escorting state president Said Abdullahi Deni died after their military vehicle veered off Qardho-Garowe road and then plunged into the ditch.

In a statement, Deni mourned the death of his bodyguards and sent his condolences to the families and friends of the deceased soldiers. The injured officers are taken to Garowe hospital.

Last month, two soldiers have been killed after a remote-controlled landmine ripped through a motorcade carrying the state leader at the entrance of Bossaso, a port city on the Gulf of Aden.

Deni escaped unhurt in the attack which was later claimed by the Al-Shabaab militant group which has bases to train and stage attacks in the Bari region's mountains, mainly in Galgala.

Deni has been in Bossaso since last month to end the standoff over PSF leadership after the counter-terrorism agency’s boss rejected a dismissal by the president on 24th November 2021.

Following an intervention and mediation by the local elders, Deni finally accepted to reinstate Mohamud Osman Diyano and allow him to lead PSF, which gets funding and training from the US.

The sacking of Mohamud who inherited the leadership from his brother Asad led to a three-day fight between troops loyal to him and Puntland state security forces that resulted in casualties.

The agreement between Deni and the PSF head paved the way for holding a peaceful election of 16 Lower House seats in Bossaso, which is the second electoral district in Puntland early this week.

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