MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somali government forces successfully concluded a six-hour siege at the Godka Jilacow prison in Mogadishu, which is situated near the presidential office. All seven militants involved in the attack were killed, as confirmed by government officials on Sunday. The incident occurred on Saturday and was claimed by the al-Qaeda-linked militant group al-Shabab, known for orchestrating numerous attacks throughout Somalia in the past.
The attack on the prison took place shortly after the Somali federal government lifted several long-standing roadblocks in Mogadishu. These barriers had been enforced for years to protect crucial government sites, but many residents contended that they impeded the flow of traffic and hindered commerce.
In recent months, Mogadishu had seen a period of relative calm due to successful military operations by government forces, which received support from local militias and African Union troops. These efforts have pushed al-Shabab fighters out of various regions in central and southern Somalia.
Officials confirmed that, during the siege, no prisoners escaped from the Godka Jilacow prison. Meanwhile, Abdulkadir Adam, a private ambulance owner, reported that his vehicles transported nearly 25 patients to different hospitals following the attack. Additionally, Abdulkadir Yousuf Abdullahi, the director of a private hospital, stated that his facility received an unspecified number of patients and provided emergency and life-saving care. The hospital is currently working to identify these patients and connect them with their families.
According to Somalia’s state media, the militants employed a vehicle that was disguised to resemble those of the intelligence unit’s security forces during the attack. This strategy underscored the group's ongoing tactics to infiltrate secure areas, drawing attention to the persistent security challenges faced by the Somali government.
The events of this weekend illustrate the fluctuating security environment in Mogadishu and highlight the ongoing threat posed by extremist groups like al-Shabab. Despite recent successes against the militants, Saturday’s incident serves as a reminder of the volatile situation and the complex dynamics within Somali society, where issues of security, governance, and public safety are deeply intertwined.
