Mogadishu – Several people were killed and others wounded when a suicide bomber thought to be from the Al-Shabab militant group targeted an army recruitment centre in Mogadishu on Sunday, Somali authorities and witnesses said.
The attacker, disguised as a civilian, detonated explosives outside the Xero Damaayo camp in southern Mogadishu at 9:20 am (0620 GMT), the information ministry said.
“Casualties have been reported but details are still being verified,” the ministry said.
“Security forces are on the scene and have launched an investigation.”
Islamist militant group Al-Shabab, which is linked to Al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the bombing.
MP Hassan Firimbi has stated nothing but the truth. Al-Shabaab has infiltrated the Somali federal army. Yesterday, commander Hujale was assassinated in Mabaax #Hiiraan region.
Today, a suicide bomber struck a recruitment camp at Damaanyo base in Mogadishu. Though 76,000 soldiers… pic.twitter.com/9DBs0BEL3i
— OgadenSoldier ⛩ (@OgadenSoldier) May 18, 2025
“The Mujahidin carried out an explosion targeting apostates who stayed in front of Xero Damaayo in Mogadishu’s Hodon district. They were enlisting to join the forces,” the group said.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos and casualties near the blast site.
Adan Yare, a Tuktuk driver who was passing close to the area, said the road had been crowded with civilians when the explosion occurred, with people waiting to enter the military camp.
“I was very lucky because when the explosion occurred, I had already driven past the area.
“The explosion shook my Tuktuk and when I stopped and looked back, there were several people lying (on the ground), some of them dead and others wounded,” he said.
#Somalia
A suicide attack was carried out on young people waiting in front of the #Damaanyo barracks to voluntarily join the army. While casualties have been reported, Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for attack and alleged, there are +30 deaths. pic.twitter.com/z4RRuMH7XW— Hasret Kargın (@KargnHasret) May 18, 2025
Another witness, Saalim Nur, said he saw the bodies of five civilians.
“I was in a minibus. We were about a few hundred metres (yards) away from the scene when the explosion occurred.
“The whole area has become rubble, with stones and sand flying,” he said.
Egypt, which has close relations with Somalia, condemned the attack.
“The Arab Republic of Egypt condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist attack that occurred today at the Damaayo military camp in the capital, Mogadishu, which resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries,” a statement from the foreign ministry said.
Egypt would continue to support Somalia’s national institutions and their security and military capabilities to enable them to “confront all manifestations of violence, terrorism”, it said.
Somalia has suffered a resurgence of attacks by Al-Shabab in recent months.
The group, which is fighting to overthrow the government, has intensified its campaign in the impoverished and climate-vulnerable country.
In March, Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for a bomb that narrowly missed the presidential convoy in Mogadishu, and in April, militants fired mortar shells near the capital’s airport.
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Source: AFP
