Isniin 15 July 2024 {HMC} Somalia’s Attorney General, Dr. Sulayman Mohamed Mohamoud, has ordered an investigation into how convicted Al-Shabaab prisoners managed to stage a deadly attack inside Mogadishu’s central prison. The shootout left at least eight people dead, including five Al-Shabaab inmates, who had clandestinely received weapons and ammunition, aiming to escape.
Dr. Mohamoud underscored the need for a comprehensive report from the security agencies to provide clarity on the breach.
The Attorney General expressed his surprise at the jailbreak attempt, stating it was unexpected for such an incident to happen within the prison. He stressed that those officials involved in the incident would be held accountable, underscoring that such security lapses cannot be allowed to continue.
The incident has raised serious questions about the prison’s security measures and the effectiveness of the oversight mechanisms in place to prevent such breaches.
Al-Shabaab has a history of attacking prisons, including previous attempts in Mogadishu and a successful jailbreak in Bosaso in 2021. These attacks are part of a larger strategy by militant insurgency groups such as Al-Shabaab and the Islamic State to free members and increase their numbers.
