UN official killed in drive-by shooting in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU —  United Nations official was killed in a drive-by shooting in downtown Mogadishu on Mogadishu in an attack that echoed the murder of several lawmakers, police said.

Amina Noor Mohamed, a senior community services assistant for UNHCR was killed after gunmen travelling in a vehicle opened fire on her from inside a car on Mogadishu’s Maka Almukarramah Street.  Among those killed is a staff member from a UNHCR partner organization, according to the United Nations.

Ms. Mohamed is survived by a husband and two children, the statement said.

The attackers sped off after the attack, as security officials started an investigations into the murder of the UN staffer.

The motive of the attack remains unclear and no group has immediately claimed the responsibility for the murder which sent shockwaves across the UN staffers based in Mogadishu.

“While the details of this senseless act of violence are still being investigated, it serves as another stark reminder of the dangers many humanitarian workers face in their daily work,” said United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres in a statement issued after the attack.

“On behalf of all UNHCR staff, I wish to convey our heartfelt condolences and solidarity to Amina’s family, friends and to our entire team in Somalia.” He added.

Somalia is one of the most dangerous countries that UN staffers operate. Dozens of aid workers have been killed and others were kidnapped since the collapse of the country’s central government in 1991