Major attacks in Mogadishu, 2009 to 2013

In short

These four attacks hit the AU mission, the transitional government's ministers, students and the courts, while the city was contested and then after al-Shabaab withdrew from it in August 2011. The later bombings, from 2017 to 2022, are covered in Mogadishu bombings, 2017 to 2022. This page records what the sources report.

The AU base, 17 September 2009

Suicide bombers drove two white vehicles with UN markings into the compound of AMISOM in Mogadishu while its commanders were meeting senior Somali officials. Nine people were killed, among them the deputy force commander, Major General Juvenal Niyoyunguruza of Burundi; the force commander, General Nathan Mugisha, was lightly wounded. Al-Shabaab said the attack avenged Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, an al-Qaeda and al-Shabaab leader killed by US forces near Barawe on 14 September; its spokesman said: "We have got our revenge for our brother Nabhan" (Long War Journal, 17 September 2009). See Burundi's military in Somalia.

The Shamo Hotel, 3 December 2009

A suicide bomber attacked a Banadir University graduation ceremony at the Shamo Hotel (VOA, 3 December 2009). At least 19 people were killed, among them three ministers of the transitional government: Health Minister Qamar Aden Ali, Higher Education Minister Ibrahim Hassan Adow and Education Minister Ahmed Abdullahi Wayel. Two journalists and two professors also died, at least 50 students were reported injured, and the sports minister, Saleban Olad Roble, was hurt. Information Minister Dahir Mohamud Gelle said the bomber was "disguised as a woman". No group had claimed the attack (Al Jazeera, 3 December 2009). See Transitional governments, 2000 to 2012.

The truck bomb, 4 October 2011

A truck bomb exploded at a security checkpoint outside the compound housing the education ministry and other ministries, killing an estimated 70 people, many of them students and parents. Al-Shabaab claimed it and said the compound was targeted because government officials and foreigners were there. A nurse at Medina hospital called it "the most awful tragedy I have ever seen" (PBS NewsHour, 4 October 2011). It came two months after al-Shabaab withdrew its fighters from the city.

The court complex, 14 April 2013

Gunmen and suicide bombers attacked the court complex in Mogadishu, and a car bomb shortly afterwards hit cars carrying Turkish aid workers on the airport road. Media reported at least 30 deaths across both attacks. Among the dead were a judge and three lawyers, including Mohamed Mohamud Afrah, head of the Somali Lawyers Association. An al-Shabaab spokesman said the court was a legitimate target because it ruled contrary to Islamic law. Human Rights Watch called the attacks war crimes; its deputy Africa director, Leslie Lefkow, said: "courthouses are no exception" to the laws of war protecting civilians (Human Rights Watch, 16 April 2013). See Turkey's military in Somalia for Turkey's wider presence.

Attacks on Mogadishu hotels between 2015 and 2018 are covered in Al-Shabaab's attacks on Mogadishu hotels, 2015 to 2018.

Sources differ

• AU base, 2009. Nine killed (Long War Journal, on the day) or at least 21, among them 17 Burundian and Ugandan peacekeepers and 4 civilians (Enough Project, 2009).
• Shamo Hotel. At least 19 killed (Al Jazeera; VOA), with other reports cited by VOA giving more than 60.

Read the primary sources yourself

• Human Rights Watch, "Somalia: New Al-Shabaab Attacks Are War Crimes" (2013): statement.
• Al Jazeera, "Deadly blast hits Somali graduation" (2009): article.
• Long War Journal, "Shabaab suicide attack kills 9, including senior African Union commander" (2009): article.