Somalia Suicide Bomb: Interior Minister Killed 'by His Niece'

Interior Minister Abdi Shakur Sheikh Hassan Killed by Female Suicide Bomber

A suicide bomb in Mogadishu killed Abdi Shakur Sheikh Hassan, the Somali Minister Minister of Interior and National Security. The attack, committed by a female suicide bomber, took place in Abdi Shakur Sheikh Hassan's home. He was gravely injured by shrapnel, and died at a nearby hospital.

An Islamist militant group called al-Shabaab is claiming responsibility for the attack, which they say was carried out by the minister's niece.

The Suna Times reports Al-Shabaab as losing ground, alienating the public and struggling to raise funds. Somalia has been lawless for over 20 years, as an ineffectual government struggles with various warlords and religious leaders for power in the East African nation.

The suicide attack comes after two days of protest against a deal which would extend the terms of the President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and  the parliament, but would force the Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo out of office.