'Pray for Mogadishu' is not trending, but Somalis are mobilising
What usually happens on social media after a terrorist attack? A hashtag circulates beginning with "Pray for..." or "I am...". Users share images of the carnage, and people express an equal measure of sadness and defiance.
But after the deadly attacks on Saturday 14th October 2017 in Mogadishu, which claimed at least 281 lives, some social media users have been asking where the solidarity for Somalia is, and why there are no trending hashtags like those which have emerged after attacks in the US and Europe.
Saturday's truck bomb was the deadliest terror attack in Somalia since the Islamist al-Shabab group launched its insurgency in 2007.
Heart breaking stories like this are not dissimilar to those shared after violent attacks and natural disasters around the world when people lose their lives.
Khaled Beydoun a professor of Law in Detroit, criticised the depth of media coverage in a social media post which has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook and more than 6,000 times on Twitter.
"I hate comparing human tragedies, but the mainstream media makes you do it," and "There are no slogans claiming 'we are Mogadishu' and no catchy images floating around social media demonstrating solidarity." which he posted on Facebook.
He is not alone in having this view. Between Saturday, when the attack took place, and the early hours of Monday morning the hashtag #IAmMogadishu had generated little over 200 tweets, but by Tuesday there were more than 13,000 tweets as social media users expressed their frustration over the lack of media attention the attacks were given.
A number of vigils have been organised by Somali communities across the UK and US, including one on Tuesday organised by Kings College London's Somali society and assisted by UCL's Somali Society.
Abdulkadir Elmi the President of the UCL Somali society said: "The main purpose of tonight is to show unity among young British Somalis.
"Due to the lack of global solidarity we just want to show that there are people who do stand with Somalia."
An ambulance at scene taking an injured civilian to hospital
A lot of people took to social media and started posting slogans on twitter such as #IAmMogadishu to get it trending and others posted their own opinions about the Somalians not being supported after this devastating event. From this event it goes to show that if the attack was caused by IS people would care and show support to those who were affected but if the attack was caused by another terrorist group no one would really show much interest.
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very well written and brings light to issues that are not shown in mainstream media.
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