No fewer than five civilians have been murdered and 13 others wounded following a car bombing in central Somalia, Africa Today News, New York reports.
Police said a car rigged with explosives detonated near a busy market in the district of Buloburde in Hiran region.
Islamist militant group al-Shabab frequently targets civilian and military targets.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud recently launched the second phase of a major offensive against al-Shabab.
With the help of local clan militias, African Union troops and US air support, the military has managed to capture several towns and villages.
But correspondents say there have also been significant setbacks with the jihadists fighting back to retake some areas.
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In another report, the government of Somalia has announced a ban on social media platforms TikTok and Telegram and an online betting app, claiming that their reason for taking such a decision was because they were being used by ‘terrorists’ to spread propaganda.
The move comes ahead of a much anticipated second phase of a military offensive against Al-Shabaab, the Islamist militant group that has been waging a bloody insurgency against the central government in Mogadishu for more than 15 years.
In a statement which was obtained by Africa Today News, New York on Monday morning, the ministry of communications and technology ordered internet service providers to implement the ban by August 24 or face unspecified legal action.
‘In a bid to accelerate the war and elimination of the terrorists who have shed the blood of the Somali people, the minister of communication and technology instructs companies that provide internet services to suspend TikTok, Telegram and 1XBET betting applications, which terrorists and groups responsible for spreading immorality use to spread graphic clips, photos and mislead society.’
The army has been waging an offensive against the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab in central Somalia since August last year, joining forces with local clan militias in an operation backed by African Union troops and US air strikes.