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.
“The government will issue a law prohibiting unmarked
vehicles or soldiers from operating within Mogadishu or anywhere in the
country,” Minister Fiqi said.
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.