According to a preliminary toll by the Somali army, a suicide attack left at least ten dead and twenty injured in the Somali capital on Tuesday (June 15). A man blew himself up in the middle of young army recruits in front of a large military camp in the city. The attack has not yet been claimed but the Islamist shebabs are suspected.
The terrorist claimed to have considered a new recruit in the Somali army. He would have mingled with dozens of young people waiting in line in front of the General Abdikarim Yusuf Dhagabadan camp. Then he would have unleashed his explosive belt. It is the most serious attack in Mogadishu in 18 months and attacks a checkpoint which killed 81 people.
Tuesday morning’s operation touches a symbol because it is one of the largest military camps in the country, where several thousand recruits and coaches are permanently stationed. The site is also named after an army hero. In August 2011, General Dhagabadan led the operations to reconquer Mogadishu and finally forced the Shebabs to leave the city. The officer was killed by Islamists in an attack in November 2015.
Army offensive in the southeast
The attack also comes when the Somali army is conducting a massive recapture offensive in the southeastern part of the country, which is said to have officially resulted in 200 Islamists being killed.
Some also make the connection after the announcement a few days ago about a sending of American troops to Kenya. President Joe Biden wants more troops to strengthen the fight against the shebabs in the region. An announcement was made when the Trump administration earlier this year withdrew all US troops from Somalia.
.
