Mogadishu reopens to daily life as al-Shabab loses ground

For years, Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, endured terrorist attacks and assassinations carried out by the al-Qaeda-affiliated group al-Shabab.

Recent efforts to curb the group’s threats, however, have restored a measure of security, allowing residents to resume normal life.

While the threat has not disappeared entirely, daily routines have gradually returned under improved conditions.

Security checkpoints operated by Somali forces at city entrances and in central areas remain visible reminders of the risks that persist.

At the same time, these measures have proven effective in preventing attacks and maintaining relative calm.

One of al-Shabab’s most recent deadly operations occurred in early October this year, when the group attacked a prison near the presidential palace in Mogadishu.

The complex assault was foiled by Somali security forces, and all attackers were killed.

In recent months, strict security measures have enabled the city to reopen to everyday activity.

Markets, streets, and workplaces have grown busier as residents return to their routines, reflecting cautious confidence in the improved security environment.

Shifting momentum

Security gains in Mogadishu have coincided with sustained military pressure on al-Shabab.

The group has been heavily suppressed this year through US airstrikes, which destroyed its positions, hideouts, and logistical routes during operations early this year.

Analysts say this pressure has significantly weakened al-Shabab, leaving it far less capable of carrying out complex attacks than in the past.

The suppression of al-Qaeda marks the beginning of a new phase for Mogadishu, said Wakil Ahmad Wafa, a political analyst in Herat.

"Wherever al-Qaeda has gone, it has brought death and destruction," he said.

"For years, the roads and sidewalks of Mogadishu were stained with the blood of innocent people killed in al-Shabab terrorist attacks," he added.

"Although al-Shabab tried to bring down Mogadishu, the city’s control by the central government’s security forces represents an irreparable defeat for al-Qaeda," Wafa said.

Progress without terror

As al-Shabab’s threats decline, Mogadishu’s residents have resumed work and commerce, setting urban and social development in motion.

Fear and anxiety associated with al-Qaeda-affiliated violence have eased, allowing daily life to return with greater stability.

Businesses are operating more freely, and economic activity is expanding without the group’s presence or intimidation.

Farid Ahmad Sadid, a university professor in Kabul, said years of war and terror weakened Somalia’s economy and pushed many into poverty.

"Without al-Shabab, Mogadishu will progress, and as local business activity grows, poverty will decline," he said.

"The current situation in Mogadishu shows how life without al-Qaeda can bring progress, calm, and stability," Sadid said.