Al Shabaab militants targeted President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s convoy in Mogadishu, but he was unharmed. The attack resulted in four fatalities. This was the first direct assault on the president since 2014, reflecting ongoing threats from the militant group.

On Tuesday, Al Shabaab militants targeted Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in a bomb attack on his motorcade in Mogadishu. Fortunately, both government and military officials have confirmed that the president remained unharmed following the attack. Presidential adviser Zakariye Hussein also reported on social media that Mohamud was “good and well on his way to the front lines.”
Witnesses, including soldiers and local residents, reported that the convoy was indeed hit during the assault. A Reuters journalist at the scene noted the presence of four fatalities near the presidential palace.
Al Shabaab claimed responsibility, stating, “Our fighters targeted a convoy of vehicles carrying Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as they were leaving the presidential palace and heading to the airport.” This incident marks the first direct assault on Mohamud since 2014, during which the militants bombed a hotel where he was present.
After the attack, state media broadcast images of President Mohamud in the Adan Yabal district, where government troops are currently engaged in combat against an ongoing Al Shabaab offensive.

(Reporting by Abdi Sheikh and Feisal Omar; Writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by Ammu Kannampilly and Joe Bavier) Copyright 2025 Thomson Reuters

In summary, the attack on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s convoy by Al Shabaab in Mogadishu highlights the ongoing threat posed by the militant group in Somalia. Despite the attack, the president emerged unharmed, continuing his duties amidst an operational military landscape against Al Shabaab. This incident represents a significant escalation in efforts by militants to undermine the Somali government.

Original Source: www.usnews.com