MOGADISHU, Somalia — A powerful suicide bombing rocked the Damaanyo military camp in Mogadishu’s Hodan district on Sunday morning, killing at least 15 people and wounding 18 others, a senior military official confirmed to Horn Life on condition of anonymity.
The attack, carried out by Al-Shabaab bomber who detonated explosives strapped to his body after arriving on a Tuk-Tuk motorcycle, targeted young recruits lined up outside the camp’s entrance to enlist in Somalia’s national army. Social media footage, including CCTV recordings, showed the devastating aftermath, with significant casualties among the aspiring soldiers.
The scene was chaotic after the blast, with limited information available due to the camp’s military status. Somali National Army officials have rushed to the site to investigate the circumstances of the attack and identify those responsible.
No official statement has been issued by Somali security authorities regarding the bombing. The militant group al-Shabab, which has previously conducted similar attacks on military camps in Mogadishu, including the Jaalle Siyaad Military Academy and other key sites, has not yet claimed responsibility.
The attack comes amid a period of relative calm in Mogadishu, where government forces have been conducting ongoing operations to counter al-Shabab’s bombings and direct assaults.
Criticism has mounted against the Somali government for alleged negligence, with reports indicating the recruits were left waiting on a busy public road outside the camp without adequate security. The incident has raised serious questions about the government’s measures to protect those volunteering to defend the nation.
HORN LIFE
