| Description |
A complex attack was carried out in Villa Somalia (presidential palace) in Wardhiigley District in the afternoon of 21/02. The attack started with a VBIED against the rear gate of the palace at 12:40 followed by another VBIED at 12:58 at the same place. A vehicle carrying 11 armed men in presidential guards uniforms manage to enter the compound and engaged in a serious exchange of gunfire with Somali/AMISOM forces. A PBIED also detonated opposite the Uganda House in the compound. Reports indicate that the attackers were targeting Uganda House and the Mosque inside the palace. A former NSA general, two protocol staff of the prime minister's office, two Somali soldiers, a Djiboutian national and NSA driver were reportedly killed in the attack. All the attackers were killed in the compound. Casualties from the AMISOM side could not be established. The al Shabaab spokesman, Sheikh Ali Mohamud Raage, "Ali Dheere" on 21/08 claimed that al Shabaab fighters had carried out the attack and killed many Somali officials. He said that the operation targeted the Somali president, who escaped unhurt. The al Shabaab governor for Banaadir Region, Sheikh Ali Jabel, on 23/02 declared to the media that al Shabaab fighters had killed 51 people in the attack. He said that among the dead were Ugandans, Djiboutians and Somali officials. |
