Mogadishu (Somalia Today) — Somali security forces killed seven Al-Shabaab gunmen after the group attacked a National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) facility in Mogadishu, the government said Saturday.
According to an official statement, troops responded when fighters targeted the Jilacow investigation center, a high-security site run by NISA. The attackers used a vehicle painted in military colors and wore fake security uniforms. The disguise helped them pass checkpoints and enter the compound.
“Security forces successfully ended the terrorist attack within a short period, killing all the assailants,” the government statement said.
Authorities did not say whether government personnel or civilians were wounded or killed.
Deception tactics and motive
The government said the militants used an “Abdi-Bilaah” type vehicle with army markings and clothing that mimicked security forces. The tactic let them reach one of the city’s most guarded zones without detection.
Officials said the assault exposed gaps in vehicle and weapons control in the capital. They called for tighter rules on cars painted in military colors and stricter enforcement of security procedures.
The statement framed the attack as a response to recent setbacks in the south. Government troops and allied forces have recaptured areas in Lower Shabelle, including Awdheegle, Raqayle, Shaangarre, and Malabo, during operations to retake Al-Shabaab-held territory.
It also said airstrikes over the past 24 hours in Jilib, Mubaarak, Ugunji, and Kuunya-Barrow killed several senior commanders, including Mohamed Osman Mohamed (Tuutax), identified as Al-Shabaab’s deputy security chief and head of explosives procurement.
After the attack, the government ordered all security agencies to enforce capital security regulations. The directives require tighter control of vehicles and weapons moving through Mogadishu and prohibit unauthorized use of military colors or insignia.
“Security institutions are instructed to monitor all military vehicles and arms inside the capital closely,” the statement said.
The government extended condolences to the families of slain officers and praised the swift response of forces who repelled the assault.
Calm disrupted after months of stability
The incident broke a rare stretch of calm in Mogadishu. Authorities had eased movement restrictions in recent weeks and reopened 52 previously closed roads to improve traffic flow and restore regular activity.
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said the initiative is part of broader efforts to improve security and rebuild public confidence.
“We have reopened 52 roads, the face of the capital, and the remaining few will follow soon,” Barre said at the launch event.
For several months, Mogadishu had been largely free of major attacks or bombings by Al-Shabaab. Saturday’s assault shows the group retains the ability to strike despite sustained military pressure.
Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda linked group, has waged an insurgency in Somalia since 2007. The group aims to topple the federal government and impose its strict interpretation of Islamic law. It still controls parts of rural southern and central Somalia. It carries out raids, bombings, and suicide attacks across the country, including in the capital.
NISA, Somalia’s national intelligence agency, plays a central role in counterterrorism operations and is a frequent target. Past attacks on NISA compounds have sought to undermine government morale and disrupt intelligence efforts.
Somali and allied forces have made gains over the past two years. Analysts say Al-Shabaab’s infiltration tactics, including impersonation and deception, remain a serious threat in Mogadishu, where militants exploit gaps in the city’s security network.
Saturday’s attack underscores the group’s resilience and the challenge authorities face in protecting the capital. As Mogadishu reopens after months of tightened security, officials must balance easing public restrictions with stopping militant infiltration.
