The special forces of the government and armed men of Al-Shabab, have been fighting since last night in the Villa Rosa hotel near the Villa Somalia Presidency.
Eyewitnesses said that the attack started with a suicide bombing, after which armed men entered the hotel.
The official casualties of the attack are not yet known, but the local media reported that the Minister of Security, Mohamed Ahmed Doodishe, was among those injured in the attack.
Read: Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh history of corruption 2012-2017
Read: Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh history of corruption 2012-2017
The Director General of the Ministry of Petroleum of the Government of Somalia, Mohamed Hashi Abdi Arabey, has confirmed that Mohamed-Sayed Hassan Ilmi, who was one of the expatriates, is among those who died in the attack on the hotel.
The spokesperson of the Somali police, said that civilians and officials were rescued from the hotel.
The Al-Shabab terrorist group said that they attacked the Villa Rosa hotel.
Ministers and parliamentarians were in the hotel that was attacked, as it is located in the area of the President’s office, and its security is highly protected.
The attack comes a day after the federal government of Somalia said it had killed 100 Al-Shabab fighters in an operation in the Middle Shabelle region.
Since the election of President Hassan Sheikh on May 15, 2022, failed to protect civilians and government officials from Al-Shabab has attacked three hotels, the Villa Rosa hotel that was attacked tonight, the Hayat hotel that was attacked on August 19, 2022 and the Tawakal hotel in Kismayo. and entered the month of October, 23, 2022.