The Federal Government of Somalia has officially taken ownership of an apartment located near Villa Somalia that was rigged with explosives in what authorities describe as a failed assassination attempt on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
The apartment, situated in close proximity to the presidential compound, was used by the militant group Al-Shabaab to orchestrate the plot.
On March 18, 2025, Al-Shabaab operatives planted a series of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the apartment with the aim of targeting President Mohamud’s convoy as it traveled to Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu.
Security sources confirm that the explosive devices were strategically placed to detonate when the presidential motorcade passed nearby.
However, the attempt was thwarted before it could be executed, thanks to timely intelligence and swift action by Somalia’s security forces.
The seizure of the apartment marks a significant step in tightening security around key government institutions and reflects ongoing efforts by Somali authorities to dismantle Al-Shabaab’s operational cells in the capital.
Investigations are continuing to identify those involved in facilitating the use of the apartment for such a high-profile attack.