At Least 13 Killed in Suicide Bombing in Mogadishu, Somalia

A deadly suicide bombing occurred at an army recruitment center in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, on Sunday, claiming the lives of at least 13 people and injuring dozens more. The attack took place at the Damanyo military base, where young recruits had lined up to enlist. According to eyewitnesses cited by the Associated Press, the attacker detonated explosives while standing in a queue of hopeful recruits, leading to widespread panic and devastation. “There was a loud explosion, and immediately people began running in all directions. Bodies were everywhere,” said Abdulkadir Hassan Mohamed, a tuk-tuk driver who witnessed the blast.

Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, its execution bore a resemblance to a similar bombing in 2023, when 25 soldiers were killed at the nearby Jale Siyad base. In Sunday’s incident, dozens of shoes were scattered across the ground, and the remains of the attacker were found at the site, highlighting the scale and intensity of the explosion.

Witnesses speaking to Reuters reported that a large number of teenagers were present at the entrance of the Damanyo base when the explosion occurred. Abdisalan Mohamed, another eyewitness, described seeing hundreds of youths at the gate just before the blast. “Abruptly, a deafening blast occurred, and the area was covered by dense smoke. We could not see the details of casualties,” he said, noting the chaos and confusion that followed.

Medical personnel at the nearby military hospital confirmed that they received at least 30 injured individuals from the site of the explosion. Among them, six were declared dead upon arrival. Additionally, Anadolu news agency quoted an official who stated that the death toll could be as high as 11, although exact figures remain uncertain.

In response to the attack, Somali government authorities cordoned off the area to prevent further casualties and secure the location. The explosion has raised concerns about ongoing security vulnerabilities in the capital, particularly around military facilities and public gathering points.

The timing of the bombing is especially significant, as it followed the assassination of Colonel Abdirahmaan Hujaale, the commander of Battalion 26, just a day earlier in the Hiiran region. Local sources suggest that the assassination and the bombing may be linked to increased activity and infiltration by al-Shabab, a militant group that has been waging an insurgency against the Somali government for nearly two decades.

Al-Shabab frequently targets military personnel, government officials, and public institutions in its efforts to destabilize the country and establish a strict interpretation of Islamic law. Despite numerous counter-insurgency operations by Somali and allied forces, the group remains capable of carrying out high-profile and deadly attacks.

The bombing at the Damanyo base is a grim reminder of the persistent threat posed by extremist groups in Somalia. It underscores the challenges the Somali government faces in securing recruitment centers and military infrastructure while also managing the broader insurgency threat. With rising casualties and ongoing instability, the need for enhanced intelligence, surveillance, and security operations has become increasingly urgent.