Security forces from Somalia’s South West State have seized a cache of explosives allegedly intended for an attack in Mogadishu, thwarting what officials say was a planned operation by Al-Shabaab to target civilians in the capital.
The operation was carried out by the October 14 Brigade of the South West regional forces. According to the brigade’s commander, Lieutenant Colonel Abdirahman Mohamed Munye, troops intercepted 10 high-powered landmines during a security operation on Wednesday.
The explosives were seized in the Number 50 area, a strategic corridor often used to access Mogadishu, before they could be transported to the city.
Lt. Col. Munye said the explosives were meant to be detonated in Mogadishu, posing a serious threat to civilian lives at a time when the capital is on heightened alert ahead of upcoming local council elections.
“Thank God, we were able to thwart the Khawarij’s plot to harm civilians,” the commander said, using the government’s term for Al-Shabaab. “These landmines were intended to be used against the people of Mogadishu.”
The commander credited local residents in the Number 50 area for providing timely intelligence that enabled security forces to act before the explosives reached their destination. He praised community cooperation as a critical factor in preventing attacks.
The seizure comes amid intensified security measures across Mogadishu. Somali security agencies have expanded checkpoints, patrols, and surveillance along key roads and entry points to the capital, aiming to disrupt militant movements and protect civilians during the sensitive pre-election period.
Officials say the successful interception underscores both the continued threat posed by Al-Shabaab and the growing effectiveness of intelligence-led operations supported by local communities. As Somalia prepares for local elections, security authorities insist that sustained vigilance and public cooperation remain essential to keeping the capital safe.