• Seven al-Shabab militants killed in a Mogadishu prison raid near the presidential palace.
• Attackers wore military-style uniforms and used vehicles painted to resemble security forces, triggering explosions and heavy gunfire.
• Al-Shabab claimed aims to free prisoners; government said no prisoners escaped, as roads had recently reopened after security improvements.
• The incident occurred amid a backdrop of months of relative calm and ongoing security operations in Mogadishu.

Seven al-Shabab militants stormed Godka Jilacow, a high-security underground prison near the presidential palace in Mogadishu, triggering a major security incident that included an initial car bomb and hours-long gunfire. Reuters reported a “huge blast at the cell gate” and described an ongoing operation to eliminate the fighters, while Africanews and BBC noted the attackers’ use of uniforms and vehicles to mimic security forces, with Al Jazeera also detailing the assault and subsequent fatalities. All seven attackers were killed in the ensuing battle, according to government and security briefings reported by Reuters, Africanews, Al Jazeera, and BBC.

Al-Shabab argued the raid was meant to free its members, with the group saying the assault targeted the underground facility to liberate fighters detained there. Africanews also reported the group claimed to have released prisoners, while Al Jazeera covered the timing and nature of the attack and BBC noted the security implications of surrounding checkpoints. The government has not publicly confirmed prisoner escapes in this incident, and Al Shabab’s stated aims were echoed across reporting from Africanews, Al Jazeera, and BBC.

Following the assault, Mogadishu has seen ongoing discussion about road policies and security improvements, with reporting noting that roads were reopened soon after the attack and that security measures remained in flux. Al Jazeera, BBC, and Africanews described the period as one of relative calm before the incident, while governments and security services continued to reassess safeguards around key sites, including the presidential area. This context comes from Al Jazeera, BBC, and Africanews reporting.