On February 26, 2025, Al-Shabaab fighters attacked a hotel in Beledweyne, central Somalia, while it was hosting a meeting focused on countering the Islamist group. The assault resulted in the deaths of nine civilians, including traditional elders, as confirmed by local security and police officials.
The attackers utilized an explosives-laden vehicle to breach the hotel’s entrance before opening fire on the occupants inside. Security official Hussein Ali reported that all the gunmen involved in the attack had been neutralized. He also mentioned that, in addition to the fatalities, more than 10 others were wounded, most of whom were civilians.
The hotel was the site of a gathering of traditional elders and military officials in the Hiran region as they discussed strategies to bolster the Somali government’s efforts against Al-Shabaab. Following the assault, police officer Ali Mahad indicated that many individuals trapped within the hotel had been successfully rescued. Witness Idris Adan shared that his brother-in-law was inside during the incident but fortunately escaped with minor injuries. He noted that the building sustained significant damage amid the chaotic gunfire.
Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack and has been engaged in a violent campaign against the Somali federal government for over 15 years. Although the group was expelled from the capital, Mogadishu, by African Union forces in 2011, it remains active in rural areas of the country. In response to the persistent threat, Somalia’s president has vowed to engage in total war against Al-Shabaab, with military operations supported by local militias, an African Union force, and U.S. airstrikes.
