Al-Shabaab's attacks on Mogadishu hotels, 2015 to 2018

In short

Hotels in central Mogadishu that host members of parliament, officials and business people were frequent targets of al-Shabaab in these years. Attacks usually began with a car bomb at the gate, followed by gunmen entering the building. This page records four such attacks as the sources report them. Earlier and later attacks in the city are covered in Major attacks in Mogadishu, 2009 to 2013 and The deadliest bombings in Mogadishu.

Makka al-Mukarama, March 2015

A suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden car into the gate of the Makka al-Mukarama hotel at about 4 p.m. on a Friday, and gunmen then entered; security forces waited until daybreak before moving against them again. Among the dead was Yusuf Bari-Bari, Somalia's representative to the UN in Geneva. Nicholas Kay, the UN Special Representative, said: "I condemn this terrorist attack in Mogadishu in the strongest terms" (Gulf News, WAM/AP). Wikipedia dates the attack to 27 March 2015 and gives about 20 dead, including five attackers (Wikipedia, 2015 Makka al-Mukarama hotel attack).

Sahafi Hotel, 1 November 2015

Early on Sunday 1 November 2015 a car bomb exploded at the main gate of the Sahafi Hotel, attackers stormed the building and a suicide bomber set off a second blast inside. At least 15 people were killed, among them the lawmaker Mohamed Abdi Abtidoon and the freelance photographer Mustaf Abdi; a senior commander and a former ambassador were wounded. Somali and African Union troops retook the hotel, and al-Shabaab claimed the attack (Al Jazeera, 1 November 2015).

General Abdikarim Yusuf Adam, known as Dhagabadan, a former chief of the Somali National Army, was also killed (Wikipedia, Abdikarim Yusuf Adam). Voice of America described him as the commander who led the offensive that forced al-Shabaab out of Mogadishu in August 2011, and said he had survived several earlier attempts on his life (VOA, "UN Condemns Deadly Al Shabab Hotel Attack", 2 November 2015, via GlobalSecurity). See Commanders of the Somali army.

Dayah Hotel, 25 January 2017

On 25 January 2017 a coordinated suicide attack struck the Dayah (Dayax) Hotel near the presidential palace, which is often used by lawmakers. Joseph Contreras, spokesperson for the UN mission, said: "The latest figures that we have been seeing range from between 15 and 20 dead," about half of them likely civilians; at least five journalists were among dozens injured (UN News, 25 January 2017).

Sahafi area, 9 November 2018

On Friday 9 November 2018 three explosions near the Sahafi Hotel were followed by gunfire. Authorities first reported at least 20 killed and 17 wounded. Members of the UN Security Council condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms" (UN News, 11 November 2018).

Sources differ

• Makka al-Mukarama deaths. "At least 18" (Gulf News, AP); about 20 including attackers (Wikipedia).
• Dhagabadan's post. Wikipedia and VOA call him a former army chief or commander; he does not appear in the table of transitional and federal army chiefs in Commanders of the Somali army.
• Dayah Hotel deaths. 15 to 20 on the day (UN mission); 28 in Wikipedia's later count.

Read the primary sources yourself

• UN News, "Somalia: UN mission condemns Al-Shabaab attack on popular Mogadishu hotel" (2017): article.
• Al Jazeera, "Al-Shabab assault targets senior Somali officials" (2015): article.