Sunday October 12, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali Minister of Defense Ahmed Macalin Fiqi has announced a nationwide ban on the use of unmarked army vehicles and unidentified soldiers, citing security concerns following last week’s al-Shabaab attack on Mogadishu’s heavily guarded Godka Jilacow prison.
Minister Fiqi said the decision aims to enhance security and prevent al-Shabaab from exploiting loopholes to carry out attacks, after the group used a vehicle marked with the insignia of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) during the assault.
He noted that al-Shabaab has increasingly sought to imitate government vehicles and operations to bypass security checks.
“When the attackers could not gain access through public transport, they used a vehicle disguised as a government car. It was a rare incident that will never be allowed to happen again,” the Defense Minister added.
His remarks come a week after al-Shabaab militants attacked the Godka Jilacow prison — one of the most secure facilities in the capital — using a vehicle painted with NISA symbols. The attack sparked widespread concern over the group’s ability to infiltrate security perimeters through deception tactics.