Mayor Abdirahman Omar Osman died while doctors were treating his wounds at a hospital in Doha, says a spokesman for the Somali president's office

KILLED. The mayor of Somalia's capital Mogadishu, Abdirahman Omar Osman, has died of wounds sustained in a militant bombing attack on his office last month, the government said on August 1, 2019. File photo by Stuart Price/Au-un Ist Photo/AFP

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The mayor of Somalia's capital Mogadishu has died of wounds sustained in a militant bombing attack on his office last month, the government said on Thursday, August 1.

Mayor Abdirahman Omar Osman died while doctors were treating his wounds at a hospital in Doha, a spokesman for the Somali president's office said.

Six people were killed and Osman was seriously wounded in the July 24 attack on a government building claimed by Al-Shabaab jihadists to have been targeting a UN envoy.

Abdinur Mohamed Ahmed, a spokesman for the president, said the mayor's death would "unite us" in the fight against the jihadists.

"We extend our condolences to the family and friends of the Mogadishu mayor, Abdirahman Omar Osman, and we share our grief regarding this painful death with the entire Somali public," he said in a statement.

The mayor and several others badly injured in the suicide attack by Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-linked militant outfit, were airlifted to Qatar for treatment.

The bombing occurred just hours after UN Special Representative for Somalia James Swan had been visiting the mayor.

Al-Shabaab were chased out of Mogadishu in 2011 but the capital is still hit regularly by the militants who have fought for more than a decade to topple the Western-backed Somali government.

Just days before the assault on the mayor's office a car bomb detonated at a checkpoint near Somalia's international airport, killing 17 people and wounding more than two dozen others. – Rappler.com </s> Mogadishu mayor Abdirahman Omar Osman (seen here 3rd L at a ceremony) has died from wounds sustained in a July 24 attack on his office (AFP Photo/Abdirazak Hussein FARAH)

Mogadishu (AFP) - The mayor of Somalia's capital Mogadishu has died of wounds sustained in a militant bombing attack on his office last month, the government said on Thursday.

Mayor Abdirahman Omar Osman died while doctors were treating his wounds at a hospital in Doha, a spokesman for the Somali president's office said.

Six people were killed and Osman was seriously wounded in the July 24 attack on a government building claimed by Al-Shabaab jihadists to have been targeting a UN envoy.

Abdinur Mohamed Ahmed, a spokesman for the president, said the mayor's death would "unite us" in the fight against the jihadists.

"We extend our condolences to the family and friends of the Mogadishu mayor, Abdirahman Omar Osman, and we share our grief regarding this painful death with the entire Somali public," he said in a statement.

The mayor and several others badly injured in the suicide attack by Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-linked militant outfit, were airlifted to Qatar for treatment.

The bombing occurred just hours after UN Special Representative for Somalia James Swan had been visiting the mayor.

Al-Shabaab were chased out of Mogadishu in 2011 but the capital is still hit regularly by the militants who have fought for more than a decade to topple the Western-backed Somali government.

Just days before the assault on the mayor's office a car bomb detonated at a checkpoint near Somalia's international airport, killing 17 people and wounding more than two dozen others. </s> The mayor of Somalia's capital Mogadishu has died of wounds sustained in a suicide attack inside his office last month.

Mayor Abdirahman Abdi Omar Osman died on Thursday while doctors were treating his wounds at a hospital in Qatar's capital Doha where he was brought to after the attack, a spokesperson for Somalia's presidency said.

Six people were killed and Osman, also referred to as Engineer Yarisow, was wounded in the July 24 attack.

The Horn of Africa country's information minister, Mohamed Abdi Hayir, said after the attack that the city's district commissioners were among the dead.

The attack happened just hours after United Nations special envoy James Swan visited the mayor's office.

Osman and several others badly injured in the attack were airlifted to Qatar for treatment.

Al-Shabab, the al-Qaeda-linked armed group fighting to overthrow Somalia's UN-backed government, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying Swan was their target.

Somalia's President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed praised Abdirahman, who worked as a London councillor before returning to his war-torn homeland, as a public servant dedicated to rebuilding the country.

"He had sacrificed his life and time serving the Somali public," the president said in a statement.

"He will be remembered for his dedication to serving the people and the country, as well as working hard to develop Mogadishu while taking a clear stand in the fight against terrorism."

"Today the people of Mogadishu lose their mayor; but I lost my father," he posted on Twitter, accompanied by a picture of his father in a sky-blue suit attending his son's graduation.

"May Allah grant him the highest rank of paradise."

The UN's special envoy also expressed his sorrow over the loss of the former mayor.

"Our deepest condolences and thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of Engineer Yarisow, who was long dedicated to helping his country on its path to peace and stability, and meeting the needs of Mogadishu's most vulnerable," Swan said in a statement.

"His life reflected a deep commitment to Somalia and his loss is felt by all of us," Swan added. "His work must be continued, and those responsible must be brought to justice."

Meanwhile, Abdinur Mohamed Ahmed, a spokesperson for the president, said the mayor's death would "unite us" in the fight against the armed group.

Al-Shabab has been fighting sine 2007 to topple Somalia's fragile government, which is backed by a 20,000-strong African Union force, AMISOM, and the UN.

Although the armed group was chased out of Mogadishu in 2011, the capital is still hit regularly by its fighters.

The assault on the mayor's office comes after two other attacks in July.

At least 17 people were killed and dozens wounded when a bomb went off outside a hotel near the international airport in Mogadishu on July 22. Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack.

On July 13, 26 people - including prominent Somali-Canadian journalist Hodan Naleyah - were killed and more than 50 others were wounded when al-Shabab attacked a hotel in the Somali city of Kismayo. </s> The mayor of Somalia's capital Mogadishu has died of wounds sustained in a terrorist bombing attack on his office last month, the government said on Thursday.

Mayor Abdirahman Omar Osman died while doctors were treating his wounds at a hospital in Doha, where he had been airlifted for treatment after the July 24 attack, a spokesman for the Somali president's office said.

Six people were killed and Osman was seriously wounded in the attack on a government building claimed by al-Shabaab terrorists.

The Somalia-based al-Shabab and officials have said a rare female suicide bomber used in the attack had been aiming for the American who is the new United Nations envoy to Somalia. James Swan had left the office just minutes earlier.

It was not clear how the bomber managed to enter the mayor's office, as visitors are required to pass through at least four metal detectors.

Abdinur Mohamed Ahmed, a spokesman for the president, said the mayor's death would "unite us" in the fight against the terrorists.

"We extend our condolences to the family and friends of the Mogadishu mayor, Abdirahman Omar Osman, and we share our grief regarding this painful death with the entire Somali public," he said in a statement.

Osman had been a councilor in London before returning to Somalia to enter local politics.

Al-Shabaab were chased out of Mogadishu in 2011 but the capital is still hit regularly by the militants who have fought for more than a decade to topple the Western-backed Somali government.

Just days before the assault on the mayor's office a car bomb detonated at a checkpoint near Somalia's international airport, killing 17 people and wounding more than two dozen others. </s> Medical workers help civilian on stretcher who was wounded in suicide bomb, at Madina hospital, Mogadishu, Wednesday, July 24, 2019. A suicide bomber walked into the office of Mogadishu’s mayor and detonated explosives strapped to his waist, killing several people and badly wounding the mayor, Somali police said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A suicide bomber walked into the office of Mogadishu’s mayor and detonated explosives strapped to his waist, killing six people and badly wounding the mayor minutes after a visit from the new United Nations envoy, Somali officials said Wednesday.

The attack claimed by the al-Shabab extremist group occurred after the envoy to Somalia, James Swan, paid the mayor a “courtesy call” and left the compound, an official at the mayor’s office told The Associated Press. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

The U.N. mission in Somalia in a tweet before the bombing posted photos of the smiling mayor and envoy, saying Swan had received an overview of the “challenges” in the region.

The mayor, Abdirahman Omar Osman, and his deputy were rushed to a hospital with critical wounds, police Capt. Mohamed Hussein said.

Somalia’s information minister Mohamed Abdi Hayir said six officials were killed and six others were wounded. He told reporters the mayor was being treated and gave no further details. He also confirmed an investigation was underway.

A Somali intelligence official said the officials killed included two district commissioners, two local government directors and a senior adviser to the mayor. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

It was not clear how the bomber managed to enter the mayor’s office during a security meeting. Some security officials said the attacker might have coordinated with corrupt officials, offering them bribes for access.

The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab often targets government buildings such as the presidential palace and other high-profile parts of Mogadishu with bombings.

The security officials said Wednesday’s attack appeared to be a shift in tactics, as the extremists in the past had rarely managed to infiltrate heavily fortified government buildings without first detonating one or more vehicle bombs.

The Somalia-based al-Shabab was chased out of Mogadishu years ago but still controls parts of the Horn of Africa nation’s south and central regions and is a frequent target of U.S. airstrikes. </s> The mayor of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu has died of wounds sustained in a suicide bomb attack on his office, Somali government officials said on Thursday. He died in Qatar, where he had gone for treatment after the attack.

Abdirahman Omar Osman was a naturalised Briton who returned to Somalia to help rebuild the war-torn country after serving as a councillor for the British Labour Party.

He sustained serious injuries when a suicide bomber from the al-Shabaab militant group struck while a meeting was being held at the municipal government headquarters last week, killing six senior local government officials.

Officials said the mayor had been airlifted to Qatar for treatment along with nine others.

“The Mogadishu mayor has died today in Qatar. May Allah rest his soul. The other injured ones are still being treated there in Qatar,” Saleh Omar Hassan, the spokesman for Mogadishu local government, told Reuters.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed declared three days of mourning for the mayor, ordering that flags be flown at half-mast.

Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist group al-Shabaab, which aims to topple Somalia’s UN-backed government, has carried out several attacks against government and civilian targets.

Osman had previously served as Somalia’s information minister, a post he had been appointed to in 2010. He became mayor of Mogadishu last year. – Reuters </s> Mogadishu - The United Nations joins Somalia in mourning the tragic passing of the Governor of Benadir Region and Mayor of Mogadishu Abdirahman Omar Osman, known as Engineer Yarisow, from injuries he sustained in a terrorist attack in Mogadishu last week.

“Our deepest condolences and thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of Engineer Yarisow, who was long dedicated to helping his country on its path to peace and stability, and meeting the needs of Mogadishu’s most vulnerable,” said the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan.

“His life reflected a deep commitment to Somalia and his loss is felt by all of us,” Mr. Swan added. “His work must be continued, and those responsible must be brought to justice.”

Several members of the Mayor’s staff who were injured remain hospitalized following the 24 July attack, and the United Nations renews its wishes for their full and speedy recovery. </s> Medical workers help civilian on stretcher who was wounded in suicide bomb, at Madina hospital, Mogadishu, Wednesday, July 24, 2019. A suicide bomber walked into the office of Mogadishu’s mayor and detonated explosives strapped to his waist, killing several people and badly wounding the mayor, Somali police said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A rare female suicide bomber used in the deadly al-Shabab attack in the office of Mogadishu’s mayor was aiming for the American who is the new United Nations envoy to Somalia and had left the office just minutes earlier, the extremist group and officials said.

The death toll in Wednesday’s attack rose to seven and the seriously wounded Mayor Abdirahman Omar Osman was in a coma on Thursday. He and other officials were expected to be airlifted to Qatar for treatment, said Mohamed Ahmed, a government official at the Mogadishu hospital treating the mayor.

The new U.N. envoy, James Swan, was the bomber’s intended target, Abdiaziz Abu Musab, al-Shabab’s military spokesman, told local media.

Capt. Mohamed Hussein, a senior police officer, said the female bomber walked into a security meeting and blew herself up a few yards away from the mayor. It was just the fourth time the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab had been known to use a female bomber in a suicide attack.

Swan had paid the Somali capital’s mayor a brief visit and left the compound less than an hour before the bombing, an official at the mayor’s office told The Associated Press.

In a statement, Swan condemned “this heinous attack which 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.” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the attack.

It was not clear how the bomber managed to enter the mayor’s office as visitors are required to pass through at least four metal detectors. Some security officials said the attacker might have coordinated with corrupt officials, offering them bribes for access.

Al-Shabab often targets government buildings such as the presidential palace and other high-profile parts of Mogadishu with bombings. The Somalia-based group was chased out of Mogadishu years ago but still controls parts of the Horn of Africa nation’s south and central regions and is a frequent target of U.S. airstrikes.

The security officials said Wednesday’s attack appeared to be a shift in tactics, as the extremists in the past had rarely managed to infiltrate heavily fortified government buildings without first detonating one or more vehicle bombs. </s> The mayor of Somalia's capital Mogadishu, who was a former Labour councillor, has died after being wounded in a suicide attack that killed at least six other people last week.

The female bomber blew herself up inside the office of Mayor Abdirahman Omar Osman during a security meeting.

The mayor passed away from his injuries in Doha, Qatar, where he was receiving treatment.

Its apparent target was the new UN special envoy to Somalia, James Swan, a US citizen.

Mr Swan had already left the building after meeting the mayor on 24 July.

It is unclear how the bomber managed to enter the heavily guarded building.

Who was the mayor?

Osman fled Somalia in the early 1990s and went on to earn a master's degree and UK citizenship, and served as a Labour councillor in London.

He later returned to Somalia in an effort to help re-build his war-torn homeland and served as information minister before becoming mayor of Mogadishu last year.

In a tweet, the US mission to Somalia called Osman "an excellent partner and tireless advocate for the people of Mogadishu and all Somalis".

Al-Shabab seeks to overthrow Somalia's central government and has been carrying out regular attacks in Mogadishu, despite the heavy presence of African Union peacekeepers and US-trained Somali troops.

The group is affiliated with al-Qaeda and remains a powerful presence in rural Somalia.
Mayor of Mogadishu Abdirahman Abdi Osman dies from injuries he sustained during the 24 July 2019 Mogadishu bombing.