Somalia: Deadly beach restaurant attack in Mogadishu claims 37 civilian lives

A devastating attack on a popular beach restaurant in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, has left at least 37 civilians dead and 212 injured. The explosion, which occurred late Friday, marks the deadliest assault in the country since the October 2022 car bombings that claimed over 100 lives.

Authorities have blamed the attack on the militant Islamist group al Shabaab, though no immediate claim of responsibility has been made. The incident unfolded when one attacker detonated explosives, while security forces killed three others and captured one alive.

Survivors described a peaceful evening shattered by the sudden blast, with chaos and bloodshed following in its wake. The beach, typically a place of leisure, was left strewn with abandoned footwear, a grim reminder of the panic that ensued.

In response to the attack, Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre met with security agencies to bolster the city’s defenses. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating terrorist threats and urged civilians to report any suspicious activities.

This latest assault underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by Somalia, despite recent government counteroffensives pushing back al Shabaab’s territorial control. The militant group continues to demonstrate its capacity to launch significant attacks on civilian, government, and military targets, highlighting the persistent threat to stability in the region.