Somalia suicide bombing kills at least 11 at Mogadishu military base
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At least 11 people were killed and 20 injured in a suicide bombing at a military recruitment center in Mogadishu, Somalia, targeting Somali National Army volunteers.
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Security officer patrol near the scene of a suicide bomber attack in Mogadishu, Somalia Sunday, May 18, 2025 (AP)
A suicide bombing at the Damaanyo military base in Mogadishu killed at least 11 people on Sunday, according to local reports. The attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting Somalia’s fragile security apparatus.
The explosion occurred at a military recruitment center where dozens of volunteers had gathered to join the Somali National Army. According to the Eastleigh Voice newspaper, at least 20 others were injured in the blast.
Deadly attack at Damaanyo military base
The suicide bomber reportedly detonated the explosive device while recruits were undergoing registration procedures at the Damaanyo military base in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Security officials say the attack was aimed at weakening the ongoing recruitment drive for the Somali National Army, which has been central to efforts to stabilize the country amid persistent threats from armed groups.
The Somali government has recently launched initiatives to strengthen its national forces in preparation for the gradual withdrawal of African Union peacekeepers.
Ongoing security challenges in Somalia
This suicide attack underscores the ongoing security challenges in Somalia, particularly in Mogadishu, where such incidents remain a serious threat. The country continues to grapple with instability, insurgency, and a complex security landscape shaped by years of conflict.
The bombing comes amid a broader context of repeated suicide attacks in Somalia, often targeting security forces, government buildings, and public gatherings.
Al-Shabaab has also been posing the most immediate and lethal threat to both state institutions and the population. In April, Al-Shabaab militants launched an attack on Somali government forces and allied troops on Thursday, aiming to capture a strategically important army base in the central town of Warghadi, Middle Shabelle region.
The base houses government soldiers, special forces, and clan fighters, and its fall could sever a crucial route linking the capital, Mogadishu, to the Galmudug state.
According to reports, control over Warghadi would allow al-Shabaab to disrupt military logistics and civilian movement along one of Somalia’s main highways.
