Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked armed group, claimed responsibility for last week’s car bombing in the Somali capital Mogadishu and said it targeted a convoy carrying Turkish nationals, local media portal Garowe Online reported on Tuesday.
The deadly attack claimed the lives of 85 people, including two Turkish nationals, while wounding almost 150, according to official figures.
“We will continue attacking Turks who invaded our country,” Al-Shabaab spokesman Ali Dhere said during a press conference.
Dhere also accused Turkey of trying to control Somalia’s resources.
Turkey is a large donor and investor in Somalia, especially in humanitarian aid and reconstruction. Turkish companies manage Mogadishu’s port and airport.
Meanwhile, Turkey has its largest overseas military base in the Somali capital, established in order to train Somali soldiers. It cost an estimated $50 million and can train about 1,500 Somali soldiers at a time to help Somalia combat Al-Shabaab.
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