MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud issued a blistering reprimand to top security officials after two brazen mortar attacks rocked the capital within 24 hours, exposing glaring vulnerabilities in the city’s defenses despite a heavy security presence.
In an emergency meeting on Sunday which followed a disturbing escalation by Al-Shabaab militants, who released footage of fighters launching what appeared to be 40mm short-range mortar rounds toward Villa Somalia, the presidential palace, on Saturday. Hours later, a barrage of shells struck Halane Base Camp near Mogadishu’s airport—a key diplomatic and military zone—sending international airlines, including Turkish Airlines, scrambling to cancel flights.
At least six mortar rounds landed inside Halane, while others hit the airport’s security perimeter, triggering panic and stranding travelers, among them Mogadishu’s mayor, whose Turkish Airlines flight was diverted midair to Djibouti.
Security Failures Under Fire
A visibly furious Mohamud grilled officials over their inability to trace the attackers, prevent the strikes, or even pinpoint launch sites in a city saturated with checkpoints and security forces. He threatened arrests, dismissals, and a sweeping probe if another attack occurs, according to Caasimada online news website.
The assaults have laid bare the strain on Mogadishu’s security apparatus, as elite police, intelligence units, and custodial forces—typically deployed across the capital—have been rushed to frontlines to stem Al-Shabaab’s alarming territorial gains. Once-dense checkpoints, previously stationed every 100 meters on major roads, have thinned, leaving the city exposed.
Al-Shabaab’s Ominous Advances
The attacks come as Somali forces struggle to reclaim towns recently seized by the militants, who now loom dangerously close to the capital. Their intent—whether to push into Mogadishu or consolidate their recent gains—remains unclear, but their latest strikes signal a boldness that has rattled the government.
Amid the crisis, Mohamud ordered Mogadishu’s mayor to return immediately as high-stakes talks with regional leaders loom, aimed at resolving protracted political disputes that have further destabilized the fragile nation.
With security forces stretched thin and Al-Shabaab exploiting the gaps, Mogadishu’s vulnerability has never been more stark—and the president’s patience has run out.
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