Somali security forces on Sunday, October 5, 2025, announced that they had successfully repelled a major assault by al-Shabab militants on one of Mogadishu’s most fortified prisons, killing seven attackers after a fierce six-hour battle. The attack, which targeted the high-security Godka Jilacow prison complex located near the presidential palace, marked one of the most daring operations by the al-Qaeda–linked group in recent months.
According to government officials, all the militants involved in the assault were neutralized, and no inmates managed to escape during the attempted prison break. The Somali Ministry of Information confirmed that the situation was fully brought under control after hours of intense gunfire and explosions that echoed through the heart of the capital on Saturday evening.
Residents near the area described the scene as chaotic and terrifying. “We thank God for sparing us from this disaster. We fled the explosion and the skirmishes as soon as they began,” said Halima Hassan, a local resident who lives close to the prison. Many Mogadishu residents reported hearing heavy gunfire and multiple blasts throughout the night as security forces battled to regain control of the facility.
Godka Jilacow prison is operated by Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) and is known to house some of the country’s most dangerous militants. It is considered one of the most heavily guarded locations in the capital. Authorities said the attackers disguised themselves as Somali soldiers to gain access to the compound, launching their assault under the cover of darkness. Al-Shabab later claimed responsibility for the operation, stating that their goal was to free several detained members of the group. However, government officials denied that any prisoners had escaped or that the militants achieved their objective.
The number of casualties among Somali security forces has not yet been confirmed. However, Abdulkadir Adam, a private ambulance operator in Mogadishu, said his emergency crews transported around 25 people from the scene to different hospitals. “Some of the injured were soldiers, while others were civilians caught in the crossfire,” he said.
Saturday’s assault came only hours after the Somali federal government lifted several long-standing roadblocks in Mogadishu. These security barriers had been in place for years to protect key government installations, including the presidential palace and intelligence offices. While the move was welcomed by residents who complained that the barriers disrupted movement and business, security analysts now suggest that the removal may have temporarily exposed the city to renewed militant activity.
For months, Mogadishu had experienced a rare period of calm as government troops, supported by local militias and the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), pushed al-Shabab fighters out of several strongholds in central and southern regions. The attack on Godka Jilacow, however, underscores the group’s continued ability to launch complex and high-profile assaults despite sustained military pressure.
The African Union mission swiftly condemned the attack, describing it as a “cowardly act of terrorism” intended to destabilize Somalia’s hard-won progress toward peace. “This attack once again demonstrates the group’s utter disregard for human life and its attempts to reverse the hard-won gains in peace and security,” said Ambassador El Hadji Ibrahima Diene, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia.
Security experts noted that al-Shabab’s persistence reflects both its resilience and the ongoing challenges faced by Somali forces as they work to secure major cities and rebuild state institutions. The group, which has waged an insurgency for over 15 years, continues to target government sites, military bases, and public places in an effort to undermine Somalia’s fragile stability.
#Statement: AUSSOM Condemns Terrorist Attack on Prison facility in Mogadishu.
Read more → https://t.co/C7VTvVfJvx pic.twitter.com/HaxhOAYnp6
— AUSSOM (@aussom_) October 5, 2025
Despite this latest assault, Somali authorities reiterated their commitment to eradicating al-Shabab and strengthening national security. “Our forces will continue to pursue the terrorists wherever they hide,” a government spokesperson declared. “This attack will not deter our mission to protect our citizens and defend our nation’s sovereignty.”
The Mogadishu prison siege serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by al-Shabab, even as Somalia strives to consolidate peace, restore state authority, and rebuild the confidence of its people.
