Suicide bomber kills 20 at a military base in Somalia

This undated file photo shows Somali troops marching at a military camp. (Fotoarsiv Photo)

MOGADISHU, Somalia - At least 20 people were killed in a military training base located in Somalia's capital Mogadishu, in the latest deadly attack targeting members of security forces, who have been fighting Al-Shabaab militants for the last 16 years.

Already, Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militants have claimed responsibility for the attack, which also left dozens of people wounded in the attack targeting the October 14th Brigade, which was named after the deadliest attack in the history of Somalia, which left at least 600 people dead in Somalia.

The government of Somalia activated a military campaign recently targeting Al-Shabaab strongholds, with the first phase leaving at least 3,000 militants dead. The campaign targeted HirShabelle and Galmadug states, and the second phase is set to cover Jubaland and Southwest states.

Already, the government of Somalia has proposed the addition of troops from neighboring Kenya, Djibouti, and Ethiopia, with the contingent set to join the Somali National Army [SNA], the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], and the US Africa Command.

A few months ago, the Al-Shabaab militants killed at least 54 Uganda People's Defense Forces [UPDF] working in the ATMIS, the worst attack in recent years. A few weeks ago, the militants also laid blockades in Baidoa town, the regional administrative capital of Southwest State.

The bombing on Monday targeted the Jale Siyaad military academy. A soldier at Mogadishu's military hospital who gave his name only as Ahmed said he had the bodies of 13 soldiers who were killed and 20 more who were wounded in the blast, reports Aljazeera.

Most of the victims of Monday's attack hail from Lower Shabelle and had come for training in the capital. said Captain Ali Farah, who knew some of them. He said he was aware of 10 deaths so far.

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

In a statement, Al-Shabaab claimed to have killed 73 soldiers, wounding over 124 others, but the militants have always been exaggerating figures in order to whip emotions. The group has been fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE