Move FM Global News

MOGADISHU, Somalia: Somali government forces ended a six-hour siege at a major prison near the presidential palace in Mogadishu on October 4, killing all seven militants involved, officials said over the weekend.

The government confirmed that no civilians or security personnel were killed during the attack, which was claimed by the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group, known for carrying out deadly assaults across Somalia.

The attack targeted the high-security Godka Jilacow prison, located close to key government offices. Authorities said no inmates escaped during the assault. State media reported that the attackers arrived in a vehicle disguised to resemble one used by Somalia’s intelligence service before storming the facility.

The siege began just hours after the federal government removed several long-standing roadblocks in Mogadishu. The barriers were originally erected to protect government institutions but were long criticized by residents for stifling traffic and commerce.

In recent months, Mogadishu had experienced a period of relative calm as Somali forces, supported by local militias and African Union troops, made gains against al-Shabab in parts of central and southern Somalia. The latest attack, however, underscores the group’s continued ability to strike at heavily guarded targets in the capital.

Emergency services rushed to the scene soon after the fighting broke out. Abdulkadir Adam, a private ambulance operator, said his team transported nearly 25 people to different hospitals. Abdulkadir Yousuf Abdullahi, director of a private medical facility, said his hospital treated several patients for serious injuries and was working to identify them and contact their families.

The government praised its security forces for preventing a larger tragedy, describing the assault as another failed attempt by al-Shabab to disrupt Somalia’s improving security environment.