A suicide bomber, believed to be linked to the Al-Shabab militant group, targeted an army recruitment center in Mogadishu on Sunday, killing and injuring several people, according to Somali authorities and eyewitnesses.
The attack took place around 9:20 AM local time outside the Xero Damaayo military camp in southern Mogadishu. The bomber, disguised as a civilian, detonated explosives among a crowd gathered at the entrance of the camp, Somalia’s Ministry of Information said. Security forces have secured the area and launched an investigation.
The Al-Qaeda-affiliated group Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the bombing, stating that the attack targeted individuals enlisting to join government forces.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of devastation. Adan Yare, a Tuktuk driver who had just passed the area, said the blast shook his vehicle and left multiple people lying on the ground, dead or injured. Another witness, Saalim Nur, reported seeing at least five bodies and described the aftermath as chaotic, with debris and dust filling the air.
Egypt strongly condemned the attack in a statement from its foreign ministry, expressing solidarity with Somalia and pledging continued support for its security and military institutions to combat terrorism.
Somalia has witnessed a rise in Al-Shabab attacks in recent months as the group intensifies efforts to destabilize the government. In recent incidents, militants narrowly missed a presidential convoy in March and fired mortar shells near Mogadishu’s airport in April. The country remains vulnerable, grappling with both security threats and the ongoing challenges of poverty and climate instability.
