3.2. Prison facilities in Mogadishu

Table of contents

The main operational prisons across Somalia include:

  • Somaliland: Hargeisa Central Prison and Mandera prison;235

  • Puntland: Garowe Central Prison, prisons in Bosasso, Galkacyo, Qhardo;236

  • Benadir: Mogadishu Central Prison (MCP), Mogadishu Prison and Court Complex (MPCC), Godka Jilacow Prison;237

  • South-Central Somalia: prisons in Kismayo, Baidoa, Beledweyn,238 Bula Burto, Jowhar;239

  • Al-Shabaab controlled area: thousands of prisoners are held in prison-like establishments in the regions under its control.240

  • Focusing on the situation in Mogadishu, an overview of prisons and prisons-like detention facilities as of December 2025 is offered in the table below:241
Facility Background Capacity Actual population
Convicted Remand
Mogadishu Central Prison (MCP) Colonial period establishment; host ~ 80 % of the entire detained population in Somalia ~400-500242

2 590

[2 301 males, 66 females, 189 male juveniles, 34 female juveniles]

1 105

[987 males, 29 females, 89 male juveniles]
Mogadishu Prison and Court Complex (MPCC) Facility includes two courtrooms and three prison blocks, inaugurated in February 2019243 ~700

309

[males only]
Unwarranted or remand
Godka Jilacow Prison (The Hole)

Known for holding many suspected AS fighters and

political opponents; run by NISA, reportedly as an interrogation centre

627

[113 male political prisoners, 315 males linked to AS, 91 females linked to AS, 108 male juvenile linked to AS]
CID (Criminal Investigation Directorate) Accommodate numerous individuals awaiting investigation

83

[60 males, 21 females, 2 male juveniles]
Mogadishu District Police Stations 19 district police stations that operate as detention facilities; host individuals before sent to CID

408

[192 males, 39 females, 130 male juveniles, 47 female juveniles]
Undisclosed detention sites Several detention sites, in the form of houses, operated by NISA; host mainly political opposition figures, prominent leaders affiliated with AS n.a.
  • 235

    WPB, Somalia, 2023, url

  • 236

    Kaalo, Capacity mapping of criminal rehabilitation systems targeting short term prisoners in Puntland, April 2019, url, pp. 3, 6, 8, 10

  • 237

    OPR, Annual report assessment on human rights violations in Mogadishu prisons and detention facilities, December 2025, url, p. 6

  • 238

    WPB, Somalia, 2023, url; UNSOM, Prison conditions in Somalia, July 2024, url, p. 4

  • 239

    OPR, Annual report assessment on human rights violations in Mogadishu prisons and detention facilities, December 2025, url, p. 5

  • 240

    WPB, Somalia, 2023, url

  • 241

    When not otherwise indicated all information from the table has been drawn from OPR, Annual report assessment on human rights violations in Mogadishu prisons and detention facilities, December 2025, url, pp. 3-7

  • 242

    Saferworld, Detainee and detention centre conditions in Mogadishu, Kismayo and Baidoa, January 2022, url, p. 13

  • 243

    UN UNifeed, Somalia New Prison Court Complex, 23 February 2019, url