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Pope Francis Prays for Dozens Killed, Affected in Somalia Car Bomb Explosion

Somalia Car bomb explosion December 28, 2019

By Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla

Mogadishu, 31 December, 2019 / 9:52 am (ACI Africa).

The incidence of a massive car bomb that exploded in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu on Saturday, December 28 killing at least 70 and injuring more than 140 was a focus of the Holy Father’s post-Angelus prayer Sunday, December 29.

“Let us pray to the Lord for the victims of yesterday’s horrible terrorist attack in Mogadishu in Somalia, where the explosion of a car bomb killed more than 70 people”, Pope Francis invited the pilgrims at the Vatican after reciting the Angelus prayer.

Referencing the victims of the terrorist attack, the Holy Father expressed his closeness to “all of their family members and those who mourn their deaths.”

In concluding the Angelus prayer, the Pontiff expressed the hope, off the cuff, that 2019 may end with “peace in our hearts.”

According to Somalia government spokesman Ismael Mukhtar Omar, the attacker drove the vehicle into the “Ex-control Afgoye” checkpoint, a busy well-known intersection on the outskirts of Mogadishu linking South of Somalia to the capital.

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The explosion happened during the morning rush hour in the country’s capital, with soldiers, university students and other civilians among the dead and injured.

A response committee was established following the attack with the task to help the injured and offer support to affected families, the Prime Minister of Somalia, Hassan Ali Khaire said in his address to the nation, offering his “heartfelt and deep condolences to the families and relatives of the victims.

“This country is in a state of war,” the Prime Minister warned.

“I want to tell my fellow citizens wherever they are in the world, that the morale of the Somalian people won’t be undermined by the terrorists’ attack,” Prime Minister Khaire said and added, “The enemy will be defeated and victory will ultimately be with the Somali people.”

On his part, the country’s President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo described the Saturday attack as “heinous” saying, “This dark day has robbed our nation of dozens of innocent lives, the perpetrators of this heinous act of terror will never dim the spirits of the people of Somalia.”

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President Farmajo added, “Let’s join hands in countering this evil in our midst. Let’s move fast and help out the survivors.”

Reports have quoted government officials in Somalia confirming that 15 people had been airlifted to Turkey to receive specialized treatment on Sunday, December 29 and that plans were underway to airlift 45 others to Qatar and other neighboring countries.

Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla

Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla is ACI Africa’s founding Editor-in-Chief. He was formed in the Congregation of the Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans), and later incardinated in Rumbek Diocese, South Sudan. He has a PhD in Media Studies from Daystar University in Kenya, and a Master’s degree in Organizational Communication from Marist College, New York, USA.

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