Monday October 6, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — The Chairperson of the African Union (AU)
Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has strongly condemned the al-Shabaab attack
on October 4, 2025, targeting the Godka Jilacow prison in Somalia’s capital,
Mogadishu.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Youssouf extended
condolences to the Government and people of Somalia, particularly the families
of the victims, and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the attack.
newinside“The Chairperson assures the Somali Government of the full
solidarity and unwavering commitment of the African Union to neutralize the
pervasive threat posed by terrorism and violent extremism in Somalia, the Horn
of Africa, and across the continent,” the statement read.
Youssouf also called on all AU Member States — including
Troop and Police Contributing Countries — and the broader international
community to intensify their support for the Federal Republic of Somalia and
the African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) in their efforts to
degrade and eliminate al-Shabaab and other terrorist groups operating in the
country.
Somali government forces successfully ended a six-hour siege
by militants on Sunday, killing all seven attackers, according to an official
government statement. Authorities confirmed that no civilians or security
officers were killed during the assault, which was claimed by the
al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab group — known for carrying out numerous attacks
across Somalia.
The attack came just hours after the federal government
lifted several long-standing roadblocks in Mogadishu that had been in place for
years to protect key government installations. Many residents had criticized
the barriers for obstructing traffic and disrupting business activities.