Somali militant group al-Shabaab has shot dead a member of the Federal Parliament in the capital Mogadishu, the first killing of a legislator in 2015.
Abdullahi Qayad Barre was shot dead in the Hamar Jajab district on Monday by gunmen while he was heading to attend a Parliament session. The Parliament is expected to carry out the vote of confidence for the new cabinet following weeks of bickering.
An official from al-Shabaab claimed the responsibility of the attack and threatened to continue the attacks on the legislators.
Security officials have said that they have arrested his driver in which they have linked him to the assailants.
The killing of the MP comes hours after over 100 members of the Parliament wrote a letter calling for the Parliament Speaker to resign, after accusing him of being ‘’partial’’ to the government.
Since 2012 when the new parliament was formed, at least ten legislators have been gunned down in Mogadishu. Most of the assassinations have been claimed by al-Shabaab yet others were politically motivated.
Horseed Media
Al-Shabaab guns down Somalia MP in Mogadishu
Published: February 9, 2015
