MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Heavily armed Al-Shabaab militants launched a major overnight attack in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, on Monday, sparking hours of intense fighting with security forces in one of the most brazen attacks in recent months.
The militants targeted bases of the Turkish-trained Haram’ad special police unit in Kahda district, south of the city, in an engagement that began late in the night and continued into the early hours of Tuesday. Residents reported sustained gunfire and explosions as Somali forces battled to repel the attackers.
Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the assault through its media outlet, Radio Andalus, and separately announced it had carried out another attack in Elasha Biyaha area, on the outskirts of the capital, killing four soldiers and officers, and wounding several soldiers. The group’s claims could not be independently verified.
The assault underscores the enduring threat posed by the Islamist group despite repeated government claims that security in the capital has improved. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, whose term is nearing its end, pledged in 2022 to eliminate Al-Shabaab within months, but the group continues to stage deadly raids and bombings across capital.
The latest violence occurred as authorities have been promoting a message of improved security in Mogadishu, recently reopening several major roads and declaring the capital safe. Officials also imposed restrictions on the movement of armored vehicles, including those used by opposition politicians, citing the need to prevent their misuse. Opposition leaders have condemned the move as an attempt to endanger them, accusing the government of leaving them vulnerable to militant attacks.
Monday’s assault followed a recent incident in which Al-Shabaab militants infiltrated an intelligence compound near the presidential palace using a vehicle packed with explosives, breaching one of the most secure zones in the city.
The government has yet to comment on the latest violence or provide details on casualties.
The renewed assault highlights the persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab despite repeated government offensives and international backing for Somalia’s counter-insurgency efforts. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who once vowed to defeat the group within three months following his re-election, faces mounting criticism as the militants continue to strike in and around the capital.
The escalation also casts further doubt on government plans to hold Mogadishu’s first universal suffrage municipal elections in decades next month and a national parliamentary vote thereafter. With large parts of the country still under militant control and regional administrations at odds with the central government, the prospect of a credible nationwide election remains uncertain.
The attack underscores Al-Shabaab’s continued ability to infiltrate the capital and challenge state authority even as officials maintain that Mogadishu’s security is “stable and reliable.”
Contact us: info@somaliguardian.com
