Attack on Military Base in Somalia by Islamist Terror Group: At Least 35 Dead

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The Islamist terrorist group al-Shabaab has attacked a military base in Somalia. At least 35 deaths have already been counted. The army base has been in the hands of the Somali army since October 2022, after being occupied by al-Shabaab for months.

In Somalia, a country in the Horn of Africa, at least 35 people have been killed in an attack by the terrorist group al-Shabaab. It would concern 20 Somali soldiers and 15 al-Shabaab fighters. The military base is located about 60 kilometres from the capital Mogadishu.

“First, there was a loud explosion, and then a confrontation between the terror militants and the army,” says an eyewitness. Al-Shabaab, a branch of jihadist group al-Qaeda, immediately claimed the attack. The terrorist group later stated that it had taken control of the military base. However, Ahmed Mohamud, a Somali army commander, said the army had regained control of the entire area.

Al-Shabaab has been active in Somalia since 2007. The terror movement wants to overthrow the Somali government to rule according to a strict interpretation of Islam. As a result, the government is on a major offensive to regain control of the country.

Somali President Hassan Cheikh Mohamoud has declared “all-out war”. Recently, the city of Haradhere has been back in government hands. This city has great strategic importance and was under the rule of al-Shabaab for a decade.

The ongoing violence between the government and the terrorist movements accompanies much suffering. More than 200,000 Somalis lack food. United Nations (UN) officials speak of a devastating famine in certain parts of the country.