Second Explosion Rocks Somali Presidential Palace Area

A second explosion has been reported near the Somali presidential palace, according to Garowe Online.

The blast occurred close to a prison in Mogadishu after an attack by al-Shabaab militants.

Earlier, the same outlet reported an initial explosion and heavy gunfire near the main prison run by Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency. *Garowe Online* said a second blast was later heard inside the facility as militants clashed with intelligence forces.

The report added that several al-Shabaab members managed to escape from the prison during the assault.

Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda affiliate formed in 2004, controls large areas of southern and central Somalia and is estimated to have around 18,000 fighters.

Since early 2025, the United States has conducted more than 20 airstrikes across Somalia, primarily targeting Islamic State positions in the rugged Cal Miskaad mountains of northeastern Puntland.