A Somali National Army general and at least seven of his bodyguards were killed when a car bomb targeting their convoy detonated, a police colonel said.

Abdikadir Farah , a senior police officer told Reuters that “”Military General Mohamed Roble Jimale (Goobaanle)” and at least seven of his body guards were killed.”

Although it is not immediately clear who is behind the attack, the attack resembles similar assaults perpetrated by Al Shabab insurgents.

This attack comes a day after Somali and African Union forces recaptured El Wak after it was briefly seized by Al Shabaab.

The group has ramped up attacks in a bid to disrupt parliamentary and presidential elections next month.