Terrorist attacks in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, have fallen by nearly 90% in recent years, Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi has said.
Fiqi said a security assessment report presented at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Mogadishu’s Daynile district on Saturday showed that terrorist attacks had declined by about 87%. He described the figure as evidence of a substantial improvement in the city’s security situation.
“Nearly 87% of terrorist attacks have declined, according to the report presented today,” Fiqi said, adding that the government aimed to push the reduction beyond 90% in the coming months.
The minister contrasted the current situation with conditions several years ago, when Mogadishu regularly experienced armed attacks, including bombings and assaults targeting government institutions, public areas, and major roads.
Sustained efforts
Fiqi recalled that during elections held about five years ago, mortar rounds landed around the venue where Somalia’s political leaders were casting their votes. He said the situation had significantly changed, noting that senior officials could now gather at the Defence Ministry in Daynile without fear.
He attributed the improvement to sustained efforts by Somalia’s intelligence service, police and military, as well as cooperation from residents of the Banadir region, where Mogadishu is located.
The minister further said that security forces had also expanded their presence into areas previously inaccessible because of Al Shabab’s control, strengthening security around the capital.
Fiqi praised security personnel who had worked continuously during the campaign, saying the gains had come at a significant human cost. He said nearly 300 soldiers had been killed in Al Shabab bombings and assassinations, while casualties among intelligence and police personnel numbered in the thousands. He also acknowledged the loss of civilian lives.
Vigilance urged
The minister urged security forces and residents to remain vigilant, warning against attempts to undermine security gains through clan mobilisation or the revival of militias.
Fiqi also stressed the importance of strengthening national institutions. He said Somalia’s political leaders should represent the government rather than individual clans, and argued that a functioning state was responsible for securing the capital’s port and airport, collecting waste, and maintaining public order.
His remarks came as the Somali government seeks to consolidate security gains in Mogadishu while continuing military operations against Al Shabab terrorist group.
