Mogadishu, Somalia – Loud explosions and sustained gunfire echoed across Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, on Saturday, after suspected al-Shabaab militants launched a daring assault on a high-security prison located close to the presidential palace.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing multiple blasts and bursts of automatic gunfire as thick plumes of smoke rose from the Godka Jilacow detention facility, a heavily fortified compound that also houses the headquarters of Somalia’s intelligence unit.
According to state media, the attackers used a vehicle disguised as one belonging to the intelligence unit’s security forces to gain access to the area before detonating explosives and attempting to storm the complex. Security forces responded swiftly, engaging the assailants in a fierce gun battle that lasted several minutes.
Authorities said several of the militants were killed during the exchange, and efforts were underway to secure the perimeter and account for any potential casualties among guards or detainees.
The attack shattered months of relative calm in Mogadishu and came just hours after the Somali government lifted long-standing roadblocks that had been placed around key government installations, including the presidential palace and parliament.
Officials had removed the barriers earlier on Saturday, citing improved security conditions in the capital — a move that had been widely welcomed by residents frustrated with years of restricted movement and traffic congestion.
The al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabaab quickly claimed responsibility for the assault through its media channels, boasting that it had freed prisoners from the facility. However, Somali authorities have not confirmed whether any inmates escaped.
Security forces immediately sealed off major roads leading to the prison, while ambulances rushed to the scene to evacuate the wounded. The exact number of casualties remains unclear as investigations continue.
The Godka Jilacow prison is one of Somalia’s most secure detention centers, housing several high-profile al-Shabaab members and terror suspects. The facility has previously been targeted by militants seeking to free captured fighters.
In recent months, Somali government troops, backed by local militias and African Union peacekeepers, have made significant advances against al-Shabaab strongholds in the southern and central regions of the country.
Despite those gains, Saturday’s attack underscores the group’s continued capability to strike at the heart of Mogadishu, raising new concerns about the capital’s security.
As of Saturday evening, the Somali government had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
