MOGADISHU—At least ten people were killed and scores injured when a suicide bomber targeted a group of young recruits outside the Damanyo military base in Mogadishu.
Eyewitnesses and medical personnel reported harrowing scenes as the blast rocked the area.
Witnesses described the chaos as the attacker infiltrated the line of recruits waiting to register at the main gate.
“A deafening blast occurred, and the area was covered in smoke,” recalled Hussien Ahmed, who witnessed the tragedy unfold.
“The youth who were lined up ran for shelter. We couldn’t see the details of the casualties,” he told Kulan Post.
“The youth, mostly recent university graduates, come here to try their luck in military recruitment,” said Farhiyo Abdullahi, whose cousin died in the blast, tears streaming down her face.
Scattered shoes, dark blood stains, and the remains of the attacker littered the ground shortly after the explosion. Medical sources at a nearby military hospital confirmed to Kulan Post that 30 individuals were admitted with injuries, six of whom succumbed to their wounds shortly after arrival.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the bombing echoes a similar incident in 2023, where a suicide bomber killed 25 soldiers at the nearby Jale Siyad base.
This latest tragedy raises serious concerns about security lapses targeting military facilities in the capital.
Despite heightened security measures at military bases across Somalia, including thorough frisking and surveillance cameras at main entrances, the attack has sparked fears of ongoing vulnerabilities.
As of the time of this report, government officials have yet to comment on the incident.
