MOGADISHU – Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that struck the Damaanyo military camp in Mogadishu’s Hodan district on Saturday morning, killing at least 11 people. The attack occurred during a registration exercise for new recruits into the Somali National Army (SNA).
The explosion happened as dozens of young men queued at the camp to enlist. According to eyewitness accounts and security sources, the attacker entered the crowd before detonating an explosive device. Al-Shabaab’s media channels later released a statement claiming the attack targeted what it described as “apostate recruits” at a government-run military installation.
Security forces quickly secured the area and launched an investigation. Emergency responders evacuated casualties to nearby hospitals. Medical personnel at Madina Hospital confirmed the arrival of multiple fatalities and injured individuals. The number of wounded has not been officially confirmed, though several victims are reported to be in critical condition.
The Ministry of Defence and the Somali Police Force have not yet issued a formal statement on the attack. Access roads leading to the Damaanyo facility were closed for several hours as bomb disposal and forensic teams assessed the site.
This marks the second major attack on Damaanyo camp in less than two years. In 2023, the facility was similarly targeted during a military recruitment drive, resulting in multiple deaths. The repeated targeting of the site highlights persistent gaps in security at military facilities, particularly during mass registration periods.
Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked militant group, continues to carry out attacks against Somali government forces, civilians, and international partners. The group opposes the federal government and frequently targets military, police, and political infrastructure in both urban and rural areas.
Somali authorities have been engaged in ongoing military operations against the group in central and southern regions, supported by international allies including the African Union and the United States. Recruitment of new personnel into the national army is part of efforts to expand domestic security capacity as international forces gradually draw down.
No information has been released on whether the recruitment process at Damaanyo will resume or be relocated. Investigations into the bombing are ongoing, and security officials have indicated that further operational responses may follow.
