Alarming surge of Al-Shabaab attacks threatens stability in Somalia's Capital

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Alarming surge of Al-Shabaab attacks threatens stability in Somalia's Capital

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) - In the wake of intensified assaults by the Al-Shabaab militant group, Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia, finds itself perilously ensnared in a web of terror posing imminent risk for civilians.

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Al-Shabaab militants storm Somali security forces base in Busley, on the outskirts of Mogadishu on the Jasiira beach on Saturday.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) - In the wake of intensified assaults by the Al-Shabaab militant group, Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia, finds itself perilously ensnared in a web of terror posing imminent risk for civilians.

On a grim Saturday, March 23rd, Al-Shabaab orchestrated a brazen attack on a military base located in Busley, nestled along the Jasiira beach near Mogadishu. The assault, characterized by coordinated suicide car bombings swiftly followed by a ground offensive, has prompted Somali forces to mobilize urgently in a bid to wrest back control of the besieged area.

Reports from local authorities suggest a harrowing toll, with numerous soldiers unaccounted for amidst the chaos. However, the precise extent of the casualties remains shrouded in secrecy, leaving families and communities anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.

In a chilling display of propaganda, Al-Shabaab claims to have inflicted heavy losses, boasting the deaths of 57 soldiers and circulating imagery showcasing captured personnel and commandeered vehicles, many of which bear the insignia of the police and military.

Among the confirmed casualties is the esteemed police-military commander, Col. Liban Golcad, whose loss reverberates through the ranks of security forces and underscores the gravity of the situation.

The reverberations of terror extend far beyond the confines of the military base, as civilians flee the vicinity, particularly around the once-tranquil shores of Jasiira beach. This exodus serves as a poignant reminder of the profound destabilization wrought by Al-Shabaab's relentless onslaught on the capital's security apparatus.

The assault on the Jasiira area on that fateful Saturday serves as a stark reminder of the looming threat posed by Al-Shabaab to critical infrastructure, with Mogadishu airport lying vulnerable to attacks originating from the direction of the militant group's incursion.

The month of Ramadan has witnessed a surge in Al-Shabaab's audacious attacks in and around Mogadishu, plunging the civilian populace into a state of perpetual fear and uncertainty. Over the past three weeks alone, the militants have executed no fewer than five major offensives in the heart of the capital, tightening their grip with each successive strike.

The 18th of March bore witness to a series of devastating assaults near Balcad, Basra, and Jambaluul, areas now firmly under the control of the insurgent group. In a brazen display of their prowess, Al-Shabaab conducted a deadly raid on the outskirts of Balcad, inflicting casualties on Somali forces stationed in the region. These attacks, following hot on the heels of the heinous assault on the SYL Hotel on March 14th, underscore the brazen impunity with which the militants operate, striking even in the vicinity of heavily fortified government installations.

Reports emerging in the aftermath of these atrocities paint a grim picture, with 16 individuals, including members of the national intelligence agency NISA, detained in connection with the SYL Hotel attack.

Security sources, speaking to Kaab TV, have sounded the alarm, revealing that Al-Shabaab now exerts control over swathes of territory stretching approximately 30 kilometers beyond the capital. Crucial arteries leading to Afgoye, Marka in Lower Shabelle, Balcad, and Basra in Middle Shabelle have fallen under the shadow of the militant group's influence, emboldening them to resume their extortionist practices targeting hapless travelers.

The resurgence of Al-Shabaab's stranglehold on key transit routes exacerbates the plight of civilians already grappling with the specter of violence and economic hardship, signaling dark days ahead for Somalia's embattled capital.