Saturday April 26, 2025

Baidoa (HOL) — A mother and her child were killed, and four other children were wounded after suspected Al-Shabaab militants fired mortar shells into a residential neighbourhood in Baidoa, the interim capital of Somalia’s Southwest Administration, on Saturday.

Residents said three mortar shells struck the Wadajir neighbourhood, with one shell hitting a family home, causing civilian casualties.

“The mother and her child died in their home, which shocked the residents,” a local resident told HOL.

The Southwest Administration has not yet issued an official statement regarding the attack.

Al-Shabaab has previously carried out mortar attacks targeting the same neighbourhood, often resulting in civilian deaths and injuries.

Last week,  militants also launched mortar attacks on parts of Mogadishu, killing a young child who was on his way to a Quranic school.