On August 2, 2024, violence erupted for four hours at Lido Beach in Mogadishu, Somalia, as al-Shabab militants attacked a seafront hotel and restaurant. The assault resulted in a minimum of 37 fatalities and over 200 injuries.
The attack started with a suicide bomber triggering an explosive at the hotel’s entrance, followed by gunmen firing into the crowd at the popular beach spot. An eyewitness, Mohamud Moalim, spotted a person wearing an explosive vest just before it was detonated near the hotel. Moalim saw several friends die in the attack while others sustained injuries.
Another observer recounted the post-attack scene. He spoke of numerous injured people lying on the ground and his efforts in transporting some of them to nearby hospitals. The assault turned a typical Friday evening into a scene of devastation and chaos.
In response to this act of violence, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held emergency meetings with security officials. The government has since detained several security personnel for negligence and formed a ministerial committee to manage emergency responses. “The government is determined to eliminate the terrorists,” President Mohamud declared, encouraging citizens to report any suspicious behavior.
The al-Qaida-linked group, al-Shabab, continues to pose a significant threat in Somalia, maintaining control over sections of the southern and central regions. It has targeted Lido Beach in the past, with a previous attack claiming nine lives. Despite losing ground to Somali forces and their allies, al-Shabab continues to execute notable attacks.
The global community has strongly condemned the attack. The Acting Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General for Somalia, James Swan, labeled the assault an “abhorrent act,” while expressing support for Somalia’s peace and stability initiatives. Regional leaders, including Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh, also criticized the attack, underlining the need for a unified approach to counter-terrorism.
In another incident on the same day, a bomb exploded 25 miles from Mogadishu killing seven people and injuring four, underscoring the precarious security situation in Somalia and the challenges faced by the government in its battle against al-Shabab.
The Lido Beach attack has left a significant human impact, as survivors grapple with the trauma of the violence. Survivor Hassan Farah reported that he was having coffee and chatting with friends at the restaurant when he saw a large man running. A flash of light was followed by a colossal explosion, filling the area with smoke. Many people, both inside and outside the restaurant, were lying on the ground, bleeding and crying.
President Mohamud’s government continues to strive for stability in Somalia by focusing on military campaigns against al-Shabab and efforts to bolster governance and economic development. The support of the international community remains a critical factor as Somalia strives to achieve enduring peace and security.