MOGADISHU, Somalia – The al Shabaab assailants targeted a military training base in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, in the latest wave of violence waged by the group, which is seeking to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia.
According to reports, the militants, through a suicide bombing, targeted Jaalle Siyaad military academy in Mogadishu, with multiple casualties reported according to sources. The government and the al-Shabaab are yet to issue the exact number of casualties.
The Ministry of Defense of the Federal Government of Somalia has confirmed that a suicide bomber affiliated with the Al Shabaab detonated an explosive device outside Jaalle Siyaad Military College in Mogadishu late Wednesday morning.
“An explosion occurred at around 11:20 AM this morning in front of Jaalle Siyaad College, carried out by a suicide bomber from the Al Shabaab terrorist group,” the Ministry stated.
The militants have been waging serious attacks in various parts of the country, mainly targeting military bases and innocent civilians. Sources said a suicide bomber targeted soldiers, detonating an explosive vest.
The al-Shabaab militant group, in a statement, immediately claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at Jaalle Siyaad academy on Wednesday morning. The group did not immediately disclose their target for the attack, but it resembles previous incidents at military bases.
The incident comes in the wake of attacks across the country, leading to the seizure of the strategic Mogokori town in Hiiraan region in central Somalia by the insurgents. The militants have reportedly started collecting taxes from civilians in the town.
On the other hand, the government is under attack for allegedly shifting its priorities from defending the country from Al-Shabaab attacks to engaging in politics, with the main focus shifting to upcoming elections and the change of the constitution.
But Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said the government is committed to the fight against Al-Shabaab militants, adding that the group should be fought by all citizens, including women, who matter in the stability and development of the state.
“It is imperative that we liberate our country from the Al-Shabaab threat if we are to realize the Somalia we envision,” Barre said. “Somali women are at the heart of that vision. Their patriotism and resilience are vital to achieving our long-term national goals.”
It is not the first time the militants have targeted military bases. Previously, they have attacked American outposts in Kismayo and even the BuloMarer base, with the Kenya Defense Forces also not spared in Kulbiyow and El Adde where many soldiers died a few years ago.
