[3][4] Jihadist militant group al-Shabaab began an insurgency in 2006, attempting to overthrow the internationally backed Somali government.

In response, the militant has carried out attacks on civilian buildings, including hotels and restaurants, as well as military and political targets.

[5] On Monday morning of July 23, 2023, a suicide bomber attacked Mogadishu’s Jaalle Siyaad Military Academy and caused many casualties.

[6] The bomber was dressed in a military uniform detonated an explosive suicide vest, targeting soldiers who were lining up after breakfast.

[9] Most of the soldiers targeted were from the 14th October Brigade (Somali: Guutada 14 Oktoober), which was named to honor the victims of a 2017 terrorist attack at Mogadishu’s Zobe junction that killed more than 600 people.