At least 300 people have been killed and scores more injured after two truck bomb attacks hit Somalia's capital Mogadishu last Saturday in the deadliest attack the country has ever seen.
The first truck bomb exploded outside a hotel close to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the busy K5 intersection and two hours later the second truck bomb exploded in the Medina district which is also home to the Somali National University.
Somalia's government blamed the terrorist group, al-Shabab, although the extremist group have not yet taken responsibility for the attacks.
Who are al-Shabab?
al-Shabab whose name translates to 'the youth' launched its insurgency in 2007 against Somalia's government. Backed by al-Qaeda, the terror group hopes to impose a strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law. It has received less attention than other terrorist organisations such as Daesh and has vowed to expel any members linked to them. Their operations have largely been confined to Somalia and its East African neighbours, however, the group has carried out several high-profile attacks in the regions, including the offensive on Kenya's Westgate shopping mall in 2013 that killed 67.
Why did they do it?
It has recently been said that the individual responsible for the bomb blasts was a former Somalian army soldier whose hometown had been raided by local troops and US special forces a few months ago in a controversial operation which led to the death of 10 civilians, including three children aged between 6 and 10 years old.
Following this, local tribal elders are said to have called for revenge against the Somalian government and its allies and not only was this the bomber's own community but further investigations are revealing other links from the town to the bombings.
Where is the global outrage?
While thousands of Somalis donning red headbands march the streets of the capital city condemning al-Shabab and asking the Somali government for answers regarding the atrocity, others on social media, particularly Twitter, questioned why one of the deadliest attacks the world has ever seen in recent decades wasn't receiving the collective outrage and solidarity that the West has in the past, as most recently seen in the Las Vegas attack, which is often not even referred to as a terrorist event and simply "a shooting".
Terrorism has no religion but according to the media, its only relevant when it happens in the west. #Prayforsomalia pic.twitter.com/BJfBQ7Ypsd
— Aspiring_Nomad (@Asadaay) October 15, 2017
189 people are dead, more than 200 are injured. But still no worldwide solidarity or condolences from world leaders. #PrayForSomalia https://t.co/2Q2ihFAio0
— Denizcan James (@MrFilmkritik) October 15, 2017
The deadliest ever bomb attack in Somalia with 231 people dead. How heartbreaking... Where is the worldwide solidarity? 😔💔 #PrayForSomalia
— tara 🕊 (@verykurd) October 15, 2017
It’s really fucked up how the world only shed tears when blood spills in the West. #PrayForSomalia & the rest of the world.
— UGLY MAN 🏌🏾 (@KwabenaOkoffo) October 15, 2017
What is the real problem here?
The real problem here is racism.
Not direct racism in terms of name-calling but an institutional system of racism whereby we choose how to value people according to their race. The whiter you are, the more you are victimised and the more people are likely to sympathise with you - this is the formula which is perpetuated.
However, this formula is racist.
How do we overturn this?
The only way we can overturn this is by ensuring that we pay as much attention as possible and not turning a blind eye to the barbarity happening out there and ensure that we spread the word, hopefully creating a domino effect and ensuring that the lives of those across the world are valued as much as those in the West.
#PrayForSomalia
