(MENAFN) Somali national forces have fended off a prolonged and coordinated assault by Al-Shabaab militants on the heavily fortified Godka Jilacow prison, situated near the presidential palace in Mogadishu.

The confrontation lasted approximately six hours, with the government later confirming that all seven attackers were eliminated during the clash.

The incident unfolded on Saturday evening, marked by a series of explosions and intense gunfire around the detention center, which is managed by Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).

The facility is known for housing individuals accused of involvement in terrorism and serious organized crimes.

As reported by local media outlets, the militants posed as members of the security forces. They used a pickup truck painted in official security colors and donned military-style attire to gain access to the prison's perimeter.

Their apparent aim was to forcefully penetrate the facility and possibly facilitate a mass breakout or targeted assassination.

This violent intrusion took place just hours after Somali officials removed several longstanding roadblocks throughout Mogadishu.

According to local news agencies, while the barriers had been in place to protect vital government sites, residents had increasingly voiced frustration over their impact on daily life and the local economy.

Militant factions aligned with Al-Qaeda, most notably Al-Shabaab, have persistently launched attacks across multiple African nations, including in the Sahel region.

The extremist group remains committed to undermining the Somali government by orchestrating ambushes, bombings, and assassinations intended to destabilize both national and regional security frameworks.

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