Seven al-Shabab fighters, who infiltrated Somalia’s capital disguised as soldiers, have been killed after their raid on the Godka Jilicow detention center. The brazen attack, which occurred Saturday evening, began with a significant explosion followed by intense gunfire. The detention facility, located near the presidential palace, houses al-Shabab militants and other high-profile detainees.
Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the assault, stating they had freed ‘all the Muslim prisoners’ and inflicted heavy casualties on prison guards. However, the government has not disclosed the number of its security forces killed or injured in the incident, offering condolences to the families of the ‘fallen heroes.’
The militants’ ability to breach one of Mogadishu’s most secure locations, near the presidential palace, raises significant concerns about the National Intelligence and Security Agency’s (Nisa) preparedness and security protocols. This incident marks a major setback for Nisa and raises questions about how such a sophisticated attack was executed.
More BBC stories about Somalia:
- The men in sarongs taking on al-Shabab militants
- How Somalis see the ‘Black Hawk Down’ battle three decades on
- The women at the centre of Somalia’s construction boom
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