Somali capital, Mogadishu witnessed a loud blast in a suicide bombing at a military base near the city stadium. The terrorist group Al-Shabab claimed to have carried out the attack. This terrorist group is allied with the Al-qaeda in the African continent. This group has been ousted from most parts of Somalia, but wherever it has retained control, it has imposed a strict version of Sharia. It has known links with other terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda of Islamic Maghreb and Boko haram of Nigeria. Its current leader is Ahmad Umar. This group has had turf wars and conflicts with ISIS and was responsible for the October 2017 Mogadishu bombing which was one of the largest bombings in East Africa. Al shabab group’s spokesperson for military operations, Abdiasis Abu Musab declared that the explosion was an act of martyrdom in Mogadishu.

Senior Army officials of Somalia told the press that the blast occurred near the gates of the 12^th April Army Brigade base close to the stadium. This attack is of symbolic and challenging nature as the target stadium was being built to commemorate the rebuilding of Somalia after years of conflicts. As per initial reports, at least eight soldiers were confirmed killed and fourteen people were injured due to the explosion. In a panic response, the soldiers standing near the stadium opened fire. This was one of the deadliest attacks on the globally recognised Somalian government. Al shabab group has been fighting for 10 years to overthrow the government to wrestle back its control for major parts of Somalia from Somalian army which is backed up by African union troops. This attack comes after the group’s last month’s attack on a Somalian convoy carrying the Somalian Army chief. It looks like peace in the country located on the horn of Africa is still over the horizon.