At Least 13 Soldiers Killed in Somalia’s Capital by Harrowing Suicide Bomber!
Monday July 24, 2023
In a shocking and bewildering event, a suicide bomber unleashed chaos within a military academy in the heart of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, claiming the lives of at least 13 courageous soldiers and leaving another 20 critically wounded, as recounted by a soldier who witnessed the gruesome aftermath. This brazen attack has been insidiously claimed by none other than the notorious al Shabaab militant group, spreading waves of disarray and perplexity.
Despite a valiant military campaign launched by government forces and their loyal militiamen, which successfully reclaimed substantial territories from the clutches of the al Qaeda-linked organization in southern Somalia, the insurgents persist with their malevolent agenda, perpetrating lethal assaults to disrupt any semblance of peace.
In a time marked by uncertainty and unease, al Shabaab fighters, facing a momentarily stagnant military campaign as the army braces for a second phase of offense, have brazenly intensified their attacks, sending shockwaves through the region.
Only a month ago, these malevolent extremists callously eradicated the lives of 54 Ugandan peacekeepers stationed at a base to the south of Mogadishu, crushing hopes for stability. For nearly a fortnight, they laid siege to Baidoa, an urban behemoth within the country, further unraveling the fragile fabric of society. And now, in this very month, they have orchestrated a series of audacious raids, instilling a sense of perpetual fear within the embattled city of Mogadishu.
It is within this context of relentless terror that the unimaginable unfolded on Monday, with the malevolence targeting the esteemed Jale Siyaad military academy. An anonymous soldier, known only as Ahmed, bemoaned the ghastly fate that befell his comrades as he stood amidst the somber walls of Mogadishu’s military hospital, where he grieved over the fallen bodies of the 13 valiant soldiers, while an additional 20 warriors fought for their lives, bearing the scars of this despicable act.
These brave souls hailed from the Lower Shabelle region, summoned to the capital in pursuit of training, as shared by Captain Ali Farah, who had the misfortune of knowing some of these evanescent spirits. As he grappled with his grief, Farah regretfully confessed that he was already aware of 10 casualties, with the fear of more losses loomingly lingering in the air like a dark cloud.
“The soldiers were being counted in the queue when the suicide bomber blew himself up,” Farah shared, his voice tinged with a mixture of anguish and disbelief, a crumbling testament to the unfathomable and devious nature of this act.
Al Shabaab, never hesitating to twist the knife further within society’s wounds, heartlessly claimed that the bomber had ruthlessly taken the lives of 73 soldiers, mercilessly injuring another 124 brave souls. Their statements, as expected, painted a picture far grimmer than the official reports provided by the authorities, perpetuating the confusion and perplexity that has become an unwelcome companion in the face of this unrelenting insurgency.
Since its inception in 2006, al Shabaab, with their single-minded ambition to topple Somalia’s central government and ruthlessly impose their own draconian rule anchored in their rigid interpretation of Islamic Sharia law, has become an enduring blight upon the nation’s aspirations for peace and prosperity.
Reporting by Abdi Sheikh, with additional insights from Feisal Omar. An enigmatic composition by George Obulutsa. Edited masterfully by Bernadette Baum.
