2024 Mogadishu prison attack

{{Infobox military conflict

| map = {{Infobox mapframe|width=250|height=180}}

| conflict = 2024 Mogadishu prison escape attempt

| place = Mogadishu Central Prison

| partof = Somali Civil War and Somali civil war (2009–present)

| date = {{start date and age|2024|7|13|df=yes}} 09:00 am (EAT)

| result = Escape attempt foiled (claimed by the Federal Government of Somalia; Al-Shabaab claimed 500 inmates were freed). See {{section link||Result}}.

| coordinates = {{Coord|2|2|25|N|45|21|49|E|region:SO-MOG_type:event|display=inline,title}}

| combatant1 = {{Flagicon image|ShabaabFlag.svg}} Al-Shabaab

| combatant2 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of Somalia.svg}} Federal Government of Somalia

| casualties1 = Unknown

| casualties2 = 3 soldiers killed

| units1 = Unknown

| units2 = {{Flagicon image|Coat of arms of the Somali Armed Forces.svg}} Somali Armed Forces

{{Flagicon image|Somali Custodial Corps Coat of Arms.svg}} Somali Custodial Corps

| commander2 = {{Flagicon image|Somali Custodial Corps Coat of Arms.svg}} Brigadier General Dahir Abdulle Rageh

| commander1 = Unknown

| map_relief =

| image = 2013 12 10 Human Rights Day D.jpg (11337790254).jpg

| caption = Mogadishu Central Prison (2013)

| notes = 5 prisoners killed and twenty-one wounded

}}

On July 13, 2024, several armed Al-Shabaab inmates serving death penalties and life sentences at Mogadishu Central Prison in Somalia attempted an escape, leading to a fierce shootout with Somali Custodial Corps soldiers serving as prison guards.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-13 |title=At least 8 killed in shootout during failed jailbreak in the Somali capital |url=https://apnews.com/article/somalia-attempted-jailbreak-mogadishu-prison-986b780152dacda75d45a40be8c3c4b1 |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=Associated Press |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=At least 8 killed in shootout during failed jailbreak in the Somali capital |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/8-killed-shootout-failed-jailbreak-somali-capital-111906874 |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=ABC News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2020-06-30 |title=Chaos Erupts at Mogadishu Central Prison: Gunfire and Explosions Rock Facility |url=https://garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/chaos-erupts-at-mogadishu-central-prison-gunfire-and-explosions-rock-facility |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=Garowe Online |language=en}}https://www.barrons.com/articles/mogadishu-prison-shootout-kills-six-prison-official-4f5ea6cb{{Cite web |title=Prison Break; Attempted Jailbreak at Mogadishu Central Prison Resulting Four Dead |url=https://nomadicvoice.com/prison-break-attempted-jailbreak-at-mogadishu-central-prison-resulting-four-dead/ |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=Nomadicvoice.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=𝕯𝖗. 𝐗𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐆 |date=2024-07-13 |title=Mogadishu Central Prison Breakout; Several Militant Inmates Shot Dead |url=https://www.idilnews.com/mogadishu-central-prison-breakout-several-militant-inmates-shot-dead/ |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=Idil News |language=en-US}}

The confrontation resulted in the deaths of five prisoners and three soldiers, with twenty-one prisoners injured. The Federal Government of Somalia said the escape attempt had been foiled, while Al-Shabaab claimed to have successfully freed 500 prisoners.{{Cite web |title=At least eight killed in shootout during Somalia prison breakout attempt |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/13/eight-killed-in-mogadishu-prison-breakout-attempt |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-13 |title=Eight dead as Somalia forces foil militant jailbreak attempt |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/five-dead-as-somalia-forces-foil-militant-jailbreak-attempt/7696633.html |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=Voice of America |language=en}}

Background

Al-Shabab has been fighting the Federal Government of Somalia for more than 17 years. They have carried out many bombings and other attacks in the capital, Mogadishu, and other parts of Somalia. In 2020, there was an attempted jailbreak at this same prison, resulting in the deaths of nine people as inmates clashed with security guards while trying to escape.https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/07/13/somalia-attempted-jailbreak-mogadishu-prison/c7a9b4de-411e-11ef-83bf-e35a32077d3e_story.html

Attack

On Thursday 13 June 2024, around 9 am (EAT) residents of Mogadishu heard gunfire and explosions. The confrontation happened at the Mogadishu Central Prison when armed inmates tried to escape. The inmates, who were members of Al-Shabaab had been sentenced to death and to life imprisonment, used small arms and hand grenades and exchanged fire with the prison guards.https://aje.io/ak5kn8

Aftermath

= Result =

The attempted jailbreak involved prisoners who were confirmed members of al-Shabaab. They had been convicted of serious crimes and were trying to break out of prison.{{cite web | url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1845680 | title=Five inmates, three guards killed in Mogadishu prison break shootout | date=14 July 2024 }} The situation was eventually controlled by the prison guards.{{cite web | url=https://en.mehrnews.com/news/217827/ | title=8 people killed in attempted breakout from Somalia prison | date=14 July 2024 }}

= Investigation =

Brigadier General Dahir Abdulle Rageh, the prison chief, has been suspended while an investigation takes place.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-15 |title=Taliyaha xabsiga dhexe ee Muqdisho oo shaqada laga fariisiyey |url=https://www.voasomali.com/a/7698733.html |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=Voice of America |language=so}}

General Mahad Abdirahmana Aden, the commander of Somali Custodial Corps, dismissed Brigadier General Rageh. General Mohamed Hussein Ahmed has been appointed as the acting commander of the central prison and will lead an eight-member committee to investigate the incident.

The incident resulted in the deaths of five prisoners and three soldiers, and twenty-one detainees were wounded during the escape attempt.{{cite web | url=https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2024/07/jihadis-mount-prison-mutinies-across-africa.php | title=Jihadis mount prison mutinies across Africa | FDD's Long War Journal | date=13 July 2024 }} The Federal Government claimed they foiled the escape attempt. A spokesperson for the Somali custodial corps said, "No prisoners escaped. The situation is under control, and we are conducting a national investigation."{{cite web | url=https://english.news.cn/20240713/e24e9119fe7a4d6e9f92a37e037bf61b/c.html | title=8 killed in prison break shootout in Somalia-Xinhua }}

Universal TV interviewed the sister of one of the victims. She questioned, "How did Al-Shabab easily obtain guns and grenades inside Mogadishu Central Prison, while the security guard has three security checkpoints for inspecting us? They even check tiny fish cans. We seek justice for those killed in the incident."{{cite web | url=https://trtafrika.com/africa/prisoners-killed-in-somalia-jailbreak-shootout-18183517 | title=Prisoners killed in Somalia jailbreak shootout - TRT Afrika }}