Defusing Fear: The Brave Bomb Squad of Mogadishu

In Mogadishu, Somalia, police officer Mohamed Ahmed, part of the Explosive Ordnance Unit, faces the constant threat of bombings and mines. Despite the dangers and social stigma, he and his team, including a dog trainer, work to save lives and prevent further devastation in a war-torn nation.

In Mogadishu, Somalia, police officer Mohamed Ahmed cautiously approaches a truck rigged with explosives connected to a mobile phone. Thankfully, this is merely a training exercise, as bombings and suicide attacks remain a grim reality in the capital.

Since 2007, insurgents linked to al Qaeda have been fighting the Somali government, often using such tactics. Recently, the al Shabaab militant group detonated a car bomb at a restaurant where soccer fans were watching Euro 2024, killing five. "We fear and feel like we are risking our lives," Ahmed admits, but emphasizes their mission to save civilian lives.

Three decades of civil war have left a deadly legacy of an estimated one million mines across Somalia. The UNMAS reports these have injured or killed more than 1,700 people. Dog trainer Hussain Ahmed combats socio-religious stigmas by focusing on the life-saving contributions of his trained dogs, despite their perceived impurity in Islam.

(With inputs from agencies.)