MOGADISHU: A suicide bomber killed 30 soldiers and wounded scores more inside a military academy in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Monda. The attack was claimed by the Al Shabaab militant group.

It said in a statement the bomber had killed 73 soldiers and wounded 124 others. The group typically gives casualty figures that are significantly higher than those provided by the authorities.

A military campaign launched by government forces and allied militiamen last year has forced the Al Qaeda-linked group from large swathes of territory in southern Somalia, but the militants have continued to stage deadly raids.

In recent weeks, with the military campaign against them stalled as the army prepares a second phase of the offensive, Al Shabaab fighters have stepped up their attacks.

In late May, they killed 54 Ugandan peacekeepers at a base south of Mogadishu. They laid siege to Baidoa, one of the country’s largest cities for nearly two weeks. And they have staged a series of raids in Mogadishu this month.

The bombing on Monday targeted the Jale Siyaad military academy.

“We have confirmed 30 dead and 73 others injured from the blast at the military training camp,” said an army officer.

The victims hailed from the Shabelle region and had come to the capital for training, said Captain Ali Farah, who knew some of them.

“The soldiers were being counted in the queue when the suicide bomber blew himself up,” Farah said.

Al Shabaab has been fighting since 2006 to topple Somalia’s central government and establish its own rule based on its strict interpretation of Sharia.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2023