Mogadishu (KAAB TV) – Heavily armed gunmen believed to be members of the al-Shabaab militant group attacked a government security checkpoint in the Kahda district of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, late Monday night, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire that lasted for nearly half an hour.
The assault targeted the Ali Janaale Hill checkpoint, a key security installation responsible for monitoring and controlling access to parts of southern Mogadishu.
The attackers reportedly approached the site on motorcycles before opening fire on government forces stationed at the post.
Eyewitnesses in the area reported hearing sustained bursts of gunfire and explosions as Somali security personnel, including members of the Haramcad Special Police Unit, engaged the militants in intense close-range combat.
The fighting reportedly lasted for around 30 minutes before the attackers were repelled.
Preliminary reports indicate that casualties were sustained on both sides, though the exact number of dead and wounded has not been officially confirmed. Residents said ambulances were seen rushing toward the area shortly after the fighting subsided.
In a brief statement issued early Tuesday, the Haramcad (Cheetah) Special Police Forces confirmed that their personnel successfully foiled an al-Shabaab attempt to infiltrate the city and launch indirect mortar fire toward civilian areas.
The unit said the operation occurred between Kaxda Cemetery and the Maracadde neighborhood, located south of Kahda District in the Banadir region.
“Our forces thwarted an attempted mortar attack by al-Shabaab militants aimed at causing destruction and civilian casualties in the capital,” the statement read. “The security operation was successfully concluded, and the situation in the area is now under control.”
The Haramcad Unit, part of Somalia’s elite police formations trained with international support, operates jointly with the Polizia Militare and other security branches to secure major checkpoints, government facilities, and strategic routes across Mogadishu.
Their work has been central to efforts by the Somali government to curb al-Shabaab’s infiltration of the capital.
Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda–linked extremist group, has waged an insurgency in Somalia for more than 15 years, frequently targeting government institutions, security forces, and civilians with suicide bombings and coordinated assaults. Despite a recent uptick in government-led offensives across central and southern Somalia, the group continues to stage sporadic attacks in Mogadishu, particularly under the cover of darkness.
As of Tuesday morning, security forces had cordoned off the area around the Ali Janaale checkpoint and launched search operations to pursue fleeing militants. Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
Government officials have not yet released detailed casualty figures or commented on whether any arrests were made following the incident.