MOGADISHU, Somalia – Seven al-Shabab militants were killed on Saturday during an attempted raid on Mogadishu’s Godka Jilow Prison, a high-security facility holding hundreds of captured insurgents.
The attack began with a car bomb blast at the prison’s main gate, followed by heavy gunfire and explosions that echoed across the capital.
Somalia’s Ministry of Internal Security confirmed that three security officers also died during the hours-long gun battle.
According to officials, the militants disguised their vehicles as intelligence agency convoys and wore military-style uniforms to bypass checkpoints.
“They used deception to penetrate city defences, but were neutralised before freeing any prisoners,” the ministry stated.
The failed raid occurred just hours after the government reopened dozens of roads across Mogadishu for the first time in over a decade, a move meant to signal improved security.
Analysts now say the assault exposes lingering vulnerabilities.
“This incident shows a clear disconnect between the government’s optimism and the realities on the ground,” security expert Samira Gaid told Al Jazeera. “Al-Shabab is not weakened; they’re calculating and can strike at will.”
The Godka Jilow Prison, located near the presidential palace, is one of Somalia’s most fortified sites.
Its proximity to the nation’s top leadership underscores the boldness of the attack, which the government described as “a desperate attempt by terrorists facing sustained military pressure.”
Somalia’s federal forces, backed by the African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS) and U.S. air support, have been waging an offensive against al-Shabab since 2022.
Despite gains, the group continues to control significant territory in central and southern regions, where fighting has displaced over 60,000 civilians since January.
The Somali government has vowed to tighten urban security, warning that the group remains “the most lethal al-Qaeda affiliate in Africa.” For Mogadishu residents, however, Saturday’s assault served as a stark reminder that peace in the capital remains fragile and hard-won.
