At least eight people were killed after the terrorist group Al-Shabaab took over a hotel in Somalia’s capital city Mogadishu, not long after the group claimed credit for two car bomb bombings and gunfire in the city. According to Abdikadir Abdirahman, director and founder of Mogadishu’s Aamin ambulance services, nine injured persons were brought away from the hotel earlier today.

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“Two car bombs targeted Hotel Hayat. One hit a barrier near the hotel and then the other hit the gate of the hotel. We believe the fighters are inside the hotel,” a police official stated. The incident was also corroborated by two intelligence officers who did not want to be identified.

Where is Mogadishu?

Mogadishu is the capital city of Somalia, an African country. It is also the country’s largest metropolis. It is situated in the Somali Sea’s coastal Banadir region. For ages, the city has served as an important harbour for the region.

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Mogadishu is Somalia’s commercial and financial centre. The Somali Civil War impacted the economy in several ways. Because the government does not rule the entire country, there is less taxation and regulation. As a result, businesses do not cost as much as they do in other regions. For added security, businesses have recruited armed militias in order to help reduce violence in the city.

The city’s principal industries include food and beverage production as well as textile manufacturing. Cotton is the primary fabric. The main market sells a wide range of things, from food to electronics.

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Mogadishu has the highest volume of port traffic in Somalia. It is still an important seaport. However, piracy has been prevalent throughout Somalia’s coastline. This increases the risk of trading along the ports.