Mogadishu, Somalia – A powerful explosion shook Mogadishu’s Boondheere district on Saturday evening, sparking panic among residents and raising fresh concerns over security just hours after the government reopened key roads long sealed off due to militant threats.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud blast near the Godka Jilicow detention facility, a heavily fortified prison controlled by Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). The facility is one of the country’s most guarded jails and is known for holding high-risk terror suspects.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the target or nature of the attack, and no group has immediately claimed responsibility. Security forces quickly cordoned off the area, blocking nearby roads as emergency responders rushed to the scene. Details on casualties or damage remain unclear.
The explosion comes at a sensitive moment for the government, which earlier in the day reopened 52 major roads in the capital for the first time in over a decade. The move was celebrated as a breakthrough in restoring mobility and public confidence after years of security lockdowns prompted by Al-Shabaab threats.
Residents in Boondheere described the blast as one of the loudest in recent months.
“The ground shook, and people ran in all directions. We still don’t know what happened, but everyone is frightened,” said a shopkeeper near the scene.
Security officials are expected to release further information as investigations continue. The incident underscores the persistent threat posed by extremist groups even as authorities tout progress in stabilizing the capital.