Al-Shabaab attacked a military camp in the Daynile district of Mogadishu earlier today. The extremist group’s suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (SVBIED) attack targeted Somali National Army (SNA) troops. The blast reverberated across various parts of the capital but did not kill anyone.
Daynile, Mogadishu, SOMALIA. By Jama:
Claiming responsibility for the attack, al-Shabaab stated that their primary target was the armed forces within the camp. “An Istish-Haadi [a suicide attacker] created an explosion that resonated throughout different neighbourhoods of the capital city. The attack targeted the apostate militias [al-Shabaab’s pejorative term for the Somali Security Forces] in a military camp in the Daynile district of the Banadir region. We have caused significant casualties among the apostate forces,” the group’s media outlet reported.
Ali Abdi Farah, the deputy commissioner for security in the Daynile district administration, provided further insights into the suicide bombing within his jurisdiction. “The vehicle was instructed to stop, but the driver disregarded the order and was met with gunfire. Subsequently, the vehicle detonated, injuring five soldiers and one civilian. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported,” he revealed.
Surge in attacks in Mogadishu
The attacks on security and military facilities in Mogadishu have witnessed a disturbing surge in recent months. Notable incidents include the assault in the Kahda district last month. The al-Shabaab raid started with an explosion at the police station and was followed by a direct gunfight, killing at least three police officers and wounding others. One police officer was confirmed missing, and several prisoners reportedly escaped from the station.
The attack on Kahda was one of two simultaneous attacks that al-Shabaab carried out in Mogadishu’s southern suburbs on that day. The ability to destroy government facilities signals al-Shabaab’s stable presence in Somalia’s capital. Moreover, it indicates Somalia’s intelligence and security forces’ continuing failures. The attack is a reminder that despite the government’s ongoing offensive in Galmudug, al-Shabaab remains strong even in the capital.
