While the world focused on Harvey Weinstein, something shocking happened
Twitter users are asking for greater news coverage of Mogadishu after a terrorist attack on the Somali capital killed over 300 people.
The point is often repeated after atrocities that occur beyond the West, that the events do not prompt the same emotional response, nor is the same level grief coordinated on social media as attacks in Western Europe and the United States.
Twitter users complained that the sexual assault accusations made against producer Harvey Weinstein, were the only stories news media were covering .
On Saturday a truck bomb was detonated at KM5 junction in Mogadishu, killing more than 300 people and injuring more than 500.
The busy junction is located near to government ministries, and a hotel, and is often heavily crowded. The bomb destroyed a hotel, and parts of the foreign ministry, trapping many inside beneath the rubble.
The death toll is expected to rise from that total, as more bodies are found in the rubble.
The terrorist group Al-Shabaab, a group with previous affiliations to Al-Qaeda, has been blamed for the truck bombing.
The Prime Minister of Somalia Hassan Ali Khair said:
They don’t care about the lives of Somali people, mothers, fathers and children.
They have targeted the most populated area in Mogadishu, killing only civilians.
#JesuisMogadishu
People on social media have been chastising the traditional news media over its coverage of Mogadishu.
Mogadishu, located in a part of Somalia that was once an Italian colonial possession, was referred to with it's Italian spelling of Mogadiscio in #jesuisMogadiscio.
The predominantly English speaking internet also used hashtags such as #Mogadishutruckbomb and #Mogadishuattack to Tweet about the event.
The white star on light blue background flag of Somalia was used an emoji by some, but no widespread use of the flag in profile pictures was evident on social media, as had been the case following attacks on Paris in 2015 and 2016.
The US mission to Somalia condemned the attacks, stating:
Such cowardly attacks reinvigorate the commitment of the United States to assist our Somali and African Union partners to combat the scourge of terrorism
The fact that Weinstein's alleged actions and those of al-Shabaab take place in the same week is a reminder that, regrettably, multiple tragedies can unfold simultaneously across the world.
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