Wednesday July 9, 2025
Smoke rises over Mogadishu after a suicide bombing targeted the Jaalle Siyaad Military Academy in the Hodan district on July 9, 2025. The attack, claimed by al-Shabab, killed and wounded several people, according to Somalia’s Ministry of Defence.
Mogadishu (HOL) — A suicide bomber blew himself up at the main gate of the Jaalle Siyaad Military Academy in Mogadishu’s Hodan district about 11:20 a.m. Wednesday, killing and wounding an undetermined number of people, Somalia’s Defence Ministry said.
Security forces sealed off the scene within minutes and opened an investigation. Officials said they will release confirmed casualty figures once the probe is complete.
Authorities blamed the attack on al-Shabab, the al-Qaida-linked group that has intensified strikes as federal troops push a nationwide offensive.
The academy, Somalia’s premier training center for army officers, has been a frequent target. A bomb at a nearby checkpoint last year killed nine soldiers.
In its statement, the ministry expressed condolences to the victims’ families and pledged to “intensify operations against terrorists to protect the Somali people.”
Al-Shabab has fought Somalia’s internationally backed government since 2007, aiming to impose a strict interpretation of Islamic law. Despite losing territory to Somali and African Union forces, the militants continue to stage suicide bombings, roadside explosions and guerrilla raids across the country.
