Asides from Colonel Ga’al, his bodyguard had also died when the landmine exploded under the chair upon arriving for work. This attack had taken place while the fighting continued between the Islamic insurgents and the government forces backed by Ethiopia’s government.

Control of Mogadishu was taken by the Ethiopian-backed government forces from the Islamists the previous year. According to the United Nations, 60% of Mogadishu’s residents have fled to avoid the clashes.

Three bases belonging to AU peacekeepers, Somali forces, and Ethiopian forces were attacked on Sunday night by the insurgents. Ethiopian troops responded with the use of heavy artillery fire.

“He used to be there every morning to inspect the security operation, but this morning the land mine blew him up, it was a barbaric act and inhumanity,” according to Abdi-fitah Shawey, deputy mayor of Mogadishu.

Since 1991, Somalia has been without a functioning central government. The transitional government is under threat by insurgency. Somalia is heavily depending on foreign help and Ethiopian military troops.