UPDATED: Al-Shabaab is behind today’s morning rocket attack in Mogadishu. The series of strikes targeted the Wadajir, Dharkenley, and Kahda districts, as well as Camp TURKSOM. The bombardment that struck the Tarabushka Kawo Godey area in Dharkenley reportedly resulted in deaths, injuries, and extensive damage. Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Mogadishu, SOMALIA. By Jama:
Moreover, al-Shabaab militants attacked the Jalle Siyaad military base in Mogadishu last night. The extremist group has escalated its attacks in the capital, employing various tactics, including direct assaults and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) against government troops and officials.
On Friday, a suicide bomber struck a small restaurant near Sayidka Junction in the heart of Somalia’s capital. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that their intended target was intelligence and security personnel frequently visiting the tea shop.
Targeting Camp TURKSOM
Our reports indicate that al-Shabaab also targeted Camp TURKSOM today, Turkey’s largest military post and training camp overseas. The Government of Turkey started its construction in 2015 with a $50 million budget.
The then Prime Minister of Somalia, Hassan Ali Khaire, praised the Turkish initiative and said it was part of the strategic partnership based on mutual agreements. “This military base will help rehabilitate the country’s armed forces and boost our capabilities to combat the terrorist groups,” Khaire said.
Daynile attack
In recent months, Mogadishu has faced a surge in al-Shabaab’s attacks. A deadly explosion killed two people in the Daynile district on Wednesday morning. One of the deceased was a National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) commander; the other victim was reportedly a civilian. Several people also sustained injuries. The terrorist group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the atrocity.
Preliminary reports suggested that an improvised explosive device (IED) concealed in the ground caused the blast. The attack targeted the four-wheel military vehicle, which the NISA commander was driving as part of a routine security inspection in the Daynile neighbourhood.
The escalation of al-Shabaab’s attacks in the capital comes amid the stalling of the government’s counteroffensive against the militants in different parts of the country. The counteroffensive stands at a critical juncture. The Presidential Office recently requested the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to delay the second phase of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) troop drawdown. The request underscores not only the ongoing challenges in the fight against al-Shabaab but also the enormous confusion in which the government operates.
CORRECTION (1 October 2023, 7:30 pm EAT): A previous version of this article misstated that al-Shabaab conducted a mortar attack. Although we can’t rule out that al-Shabaab used mortars this morning as well, we have confirmed that the major destruction was caused by rockets, not mortars. We sincerely apologize for this error.
