attack on a hotel by radical Shebab Islamists leaves three dead and 27 injured in Mogadishu

Three people were killed and 27 injured in the 13-hour attack by radical Shebab Islamists in a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu, a police spokesperson announced on Friday March 15. Among the 27 injured are 18 civilians, including three parliamentarians, said Colonel Qasim Ahmed Roble, a few hours after the announcement of the end of police operations and the death of the five attackers.

The attack, claimed by the Islamist group affiliated with Al-Qaeda, targeted the SYL hotel, an establishment frequented by government officials and parliamentarians, near the ultra-secure Villa Somalia compound, which houses the presidency and the offices of the Prime Minister.

Fifth attack in this hotel since 2015

It is also a recurring target of the Shebabs: the attack launched on Thursday is at least the fifth since 2015, the most recent, in December 2019, leaving five people dead. According to testimonies collected by AFP, a commando of armed men entered the hotel on Thursday around 9:45 p.m. local time (7:45 p.m. in Paris), after damaging the surrounding wall with explosives.

“This is a significant attack which breaks with the impression of calm which had developed in Mogadishu in recent months following certain security reforms”, estimated Omar Mahmood, researcher at the International Crisis Group. Carried out a few days after the start of Ramadan, it “also constitutes a signal from the Shebabs”, he adds: “Despite the numerous efforts announced by the government to weaken them, the group remains active and resilient and is even capable of striking the government near its headquarters.”