Foreign Policy

Al-Shabab Strikes Mogadishu Prison Amid Government’s Premature Security Relaxation

By National Security Desk | October 4, 2025

Al-Shabab militants exploited the federal government’s hasty removal of longstanding roadblocks in Mogadishu to launch a brazen attack on a major prison, exposing dangerous security lapses that threaten regional stability and American strategic interests.

On Saturday, as Somalia’s federal government prematurely lifted critical roadblocks safeguarding the capital, al-Qaida-affiliated al-Shabab militants launched a coordinated assault on Godka Jilacow prison in Mogadishu. This facility doubles as the headquarters for the regional intelligence unit, making it a high-value target in the ongoing battle against Islamist extremism.The timing of this attack is no coincidence. After years of carefully maintained security measures that kept Mogadishu relatively stable despite decades of turmoil, officials decided to remove these protective barriers, citing complaints about traffic and commerce disruption. Yet within hours, explosions and heavy gunfire shattered the fragile calm—reminding us all why...

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