Fire at Mogadishu’s Bakaara market in Somalia destroys shops, no casualties reported

Firefighters on May 12, 2025 put out a major blaze caused by an electrical fault that broke out in a section of Bakaara Market, Somalia’s largest market, in central Mogadishu. (Photo: Hassan Mohamed)

By Hassan Mohamed
Monday, May 12, 2025

The market is the biggest economic lifeline for many people in Mogadishu and Somalia and serves many other towns and neighbouring countries, including Ethiopia and Kenya.

Firefighters late on Monday successfully managed to battle a fierce blaze started by an electric fault, which engulfed a section of Bakaara market in central Mogadishu, the largest market in Somalia.

Authorities confirmed the blaze destroyed an unknown amount of property and confirmed no life was lost in the fierce inferno.

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The fire started around 6:30 pm local time at a section of Bakaara market that sells medicines.

Firefighters from both the municipal council of Mogadishu and a nearby Hormuud telecommunication company were quick to respond and managed to stop the fire from spreading. Locals and business owners were seen rushing to save their property.

Howlwaadag District Commissioner Bashir Abdi Mohamed confirmed that firefighters managed to extinguish the inferno and said that there were no casualties from the fire, which only destroyed several shops. He thanked the public and firefighters for their quick intervention in helping to stop the fire from spreading.

“Fire has razed a section of Bakaara market, particularly the medicines section. We thank God the fire only razed one building, and there was no life lost, but property of unknown value was lost. The fire was caused by an electrical fault, and now firefighters have managed to extinguish it. I want to thank the firefighters from the Banaadir Regional Administration, those from Hormuud telecom and the public who came to the rescue and to help battle the inferno.” DC Mohamed told reporters.

A firefighter from the Banaadir Regional Administration, which is the city council of Mogadishu, said their response was quick and that they had managed to control the fire.

“We immediately deployed to the scene of the fire as soon as we were informed around 6:30 pm, and we managed to be here in five minutes, and immediately attacked the fire from all sides, and I can safely say we have managed to extinguish 95 percent of the fire which destroyed some property, but we managed to save a lot of property,” the firefighter said, without giving his name.

Bakaara market is an open market in Mogadishu’s Howlwadaag district and is divided into sections selling different wares.

Fires have razed the market before, with the last one in April 2024 just before Eid celebrations.

The market is the biggest economic lifeline for many people in Mogadishu and Somalia and serves many other towns and neighbouring countries, including Ethiopia and Kenya, particularly the northeastern region around the border with Somalia.