In the Somali capital, Mogadishu, terrorists from the al Shabaab, an al-Qaeda affiliate, attacked a hotel close to the presidential palace, according to the Somali Guardian news agency.

Mohamed Ahmed Doodishe, the minister of security for Somalia, allegedly suffered injuries as a result of the siege of the terrorist organization on the Villa Rose hotel.

Environment Minister Adam Aw Hirsi said he was amongst the ones rescued from the hotel.

According to the news agency, the al Shabaab militants had stormed the hotel and clashed with the police. Witnesses stated there were loud explosions and heavy gunfire in the area.

A lockdown has been imposed in Somalia's Presidential Palace in #Mogadishu following an attack on a nearby hotel .
Al-Shabab gunmen have taken control of the Eastern end of Villa Rosa hotel. Heavy gunfire could still be heard from inside the hotel.#Somalia pic.twitter.com/c0j0Hozd4w

— Suleiman Koronto (@SuleimanSabdow2) November 27, 2022

The terrorist attack was denounced by the 20,000-strong African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

Last month, two trucks loaded with explosives detonated near the busy Zobe junction close to key government offices.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud confirmed to reporters on Sunday that the death toll who died in the October 29 twin bombing attack has risen to 100.

Mahmoud had previously vowed to launch an all-out war against terrorism following a series of attacks that included and are not limited to the 30-hour hotel siege in Mogadishu. 

It is worth noting that the Somalian government had urged citizens not to approach al Shabaab as government forces and local clan militias have launched an offensive in Hiraan, 300km away from Beledweyne, against the terrorist organization that has waged an insurrection against Somalia for over 15 years now. 

Read more: Somalia: 30 al Shabaab militants killed, including 3 leaders