Mogadishu Mayor Dies Following Al-Shabaab Attack

The Mayor of Mogadishu, Eng Abdirahman Omar Osman “Yarisow”, has died while receiving treatment at a hospital in Qatar. The Mayor was among those injured when a suicide bomber targeted municipal government headquarters in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Wednesday last week.

Six fatalities were recorded at the time, including district and local officials.

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack as part of its campaign to topple the country’s United Nations (UN) backed government. According to the group’s spokesperson the attack was directed at the new UN envoy to Somalia James Swan.

Mr Swan, who attended a meeting at the office earlier in the day, has condemned the attack stating, "[it] not only demonstrates a violent disregard for the sanctity of human life, but also targets Somalis working to improve the lives of their fellow Somalis."

Prior to his appointment as Mayor Eng Yarisow served at the minister for education and had also previously worked as a senior advisor and government spokesperson.