A massive explosion followed by intense gunfire shook central Mogadishu on Saturday near the Godka Jilicow detention facility, a high-security compound where Somalia’s intelligence service often holds Islamist militants. The Al-Qaeda-linked group Al-Shabaab later claimed responsibility for the deadly assault.
According to witnesses and police sources, the blast occurred in close proximity to the presidential palace. Thick smoke billowed over the area moments after the explosion, followed by sustained gunfire as Somali security forces rushed to contain the situation. “We heard an enormous explosion and I went onto my building’s roof. I saw a lot of smoke and an intense exchange of gunfire broke out at Godka Jilicow,” said witness Jamal Nure.
Hours after the explosion, sporadic gunfire could still be heard around the facility, which remained sealed off by security forces. Al-Shabaab, in a statement, said its fighters “carried out a martyrdom operation and forced entry” into the detention centre, one of the most secure compounds in Mogadishu.
The attack underscores the growing threat posed by the jihadist group, which has stepped up its insurgency across Somalia in recent months. Despite the presence of around 10,000 African Union soldiers, Al-Shabaab has regained control of several towns and villages, reversing many of the government’s territorial gains from 2022 and 2023.
In recent months, Mogadishu has witnessed a string of deadly incidents, including a March 18 bombing that narrowly missed the presidential convoy and a series of April attacks targeting the city’s airport complex.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has remained defiant, pushing ahead with plans for the nation’s first direct elections next year. However, the latest attack highlights the steep security challenges his administration faces as Al-Shabaab continues to strike at the heart of the capital.
