At least 300 people were killed in what was the deadliest attack in war ravaged Somalia on Saturday with an equal number seriously injured. The Mogadishu bombing is one of the deadliest attacks in sub-Saharan Africa, larger than the Garissa University attack in Kenya in 2015 and the US Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. There has been no claim of responsibility of the truck bombing that tore through a busy shopping district of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu. The Al Shabaab, a militant group aligned with Al Qaeda, has carried out dozens of suicide bombings in its bid to overthrow Somalia’s internationally-backed government but the group has remained silent on the attack so far. The Somali government has blamed the militant group for the attack. Al Shabaab earlier this year vowed to step up attacks after both the Trump administration and Somalia’s recently elected president announced new military efforts against the group.
The gruesome bombing targeting civilians has been condemned globally, by countries like United States, Britain, Canada, France, Turkey and the African Union among others. Pakistan has also strongly condemned the terrorist attack. In a statement, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said the people and Government of Pakistan extended their heartfelt condolences to the people and government of Somalia and the bereaved families. The Spokesperson said as Pakistan has fought terrorism resolutely; it can sympathize and feel the pain of Somali people at this difficult time. The deadly bombing has once against highlighted that there is a lot more the international community has to do to counter the threat of terrorism. Unless the international community comes up with a unified response to the threat of terror chances of success remain slim. The response of the international community also seems to be linked with the ‘place’ of tragedy. Attacks and killings in places such as Africa and Asia seem to attract little attention as is the case in many African countries. The Rohingya genocide in Myanmar and the lack of effort on part of the international community to resolve the crisis is another example of the apathy of Western powers.
