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Al-Shabaab militants attack key Somali towns day after President Mohamud called them ‘bedbugs’, kill 15

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Not less than 15 people have been confirmed killed and over 50 injured in three separate bombings in a strategic Somali towns in the central Hirshabelle state, carried out by the al-Shabaab militants a day after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud called them “bedbugs.”

The Somali authorities said the simultaneous attacks on Saturday occured in Bulobarde town, kilometers north of Mogadishu, where suicide car bomb killed 11 people

“A suicide bomber driving an SUV vehicle laden with explosives came under fire from security forces before reaching his goal, but detonated explosives near a police station and the base of the African Union peacekeepers from Djibouti,” the statement said, quoting security agencies.

“At least 11 people were killed in the blast and more than 50 injured, 30 of them in critical condition,” Yusuf Isaq Mumin, a medical official in the town, told journalists.

“We are now sending those critically injured to Mogadishu since the local hospital has not the capacity to handle their cases here,” he added.

According to the report, another powerful car bomb exploded near a Somali military checkpoint in Jalalaqsi town, some 160 kilometers north of Mogadishu, when soldiers operating the checkpoint intercepted an explosives-laden vehicle.

“A vehicle driven by a suicide bomber detonated near the checkpoint. Another suicide bomber detonated a vehicle at a location close to a school. At least four people were killed in the attack,” a former deputy district commissioner of Jalalaqsi, Mire Hussein Siyad, said.

Both towns of Jalalaqsi and Bulobarde are important trading and farming towns located along the banks of the Shabelle River, and they also are the second- and third-biggest towns in Hiran province and have been under al-Shabaab “isolation” for more than 10 years.

They have recently been the focal point of efforts to mobilize the local population against al-Shabaab amid an ongoing Somali military campaign to defeat militants following Mohamud’s declaration of a “total war” against the al-Qaida-linked terrorist group after being elected in May last year.

Al-Shabab has threatened violence against clans mobilizing against them in the past.

In October of last year, similar terrorist attacks that targeted bridges in those towns killed at least 21 people.

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Metro

Zambia: President Hichilema urges traditional leaders to invoke rainmaking powers amid drought

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Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, has called on traditional leaders to call upon their rainmaking powers by praying for rain as the nation continues to face the menace of drought.

Hichilema, who made the plea while speaking during the Shikaumpa traditional ceremony of the Ila people in Namwala on Sunday, expressed hope for divine intervention and sufficient rains.

“We pray that this year, God will give us rains, sufficient rains, so we can grow more food, so we can take care of the things, the assets that we keep,” the President stated.

He noted that he was informed of certain chiefs known for their rainmaking abilities, including Senior Chief Mwamba of Northern Province, Chief Sailunga of North-Western Province and Mwami Monze from the Southern Province and urged them to use their powers to invoke rain, adding that the chiefs should continue their prayers for rain, believing that “God will hear our cry.”

The President also encouraged not only the chiefs but also the churches and the entire nation to join in prayers for rain.

“All of us, the churches, everybody, we must pray for rains so that we can take care of God’s people properly,” he said.

The head of state further urged farmers to intensify efforts at planting crops and maximizing their harvest for national food security once the rain comes.

The drought in Zambia in recent
seasons have left 84 districts severely impacted, leading to food shortages and a worsening electricity deficit due to low water levels.

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Tiinubu committed to easing hardship Nigerians are going through— Info Min, Idris

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Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has, once again, reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s dedication and commitment to easing the economic hardship of Nigerians as a result of the removal of fuel subsidies and other policies of the government.

Idris, who gave the assurance during a live radio programme on the Hausa service of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) titled, “Hannu Da Yawa,” said fuel subsidies primarily benefited a select few wealthy Nigerians to the detriment of the ordinary Nigerian masses.

The minister, however, emphasized that the Tinubu-led administration was working towards economic stability, even as the president had urged ministers to cut expenses by limiting official vehicles and personnel on assignments.

“President Tinubu is pointing out the need to change from the old ways of doing things in Nigeria,” Idris said.

He noted that the cost-saving measures, though seemingly small, are expected to make a significant impact.

He also stated that the recent renaming of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security reflects Tinubu’s commitment to addressing agricultural issues from multiple angles, particularly to improve food security.

On security, Idris said Tinubu’s administration has continued to acquire resources for security agencies and support personnel welfare, while consultations on establishing state police are ongoing.

Idris also urged Nigerians to responsibly use social media to portray the country positively, emphasizing collective responsibility in shaping Nigeria’s image.

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