Somali al-Shabab militants attack a hotel in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia

On January 31, the Somali "Shabaab" militants were extremely prevented from attacking a hotel in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. Witnesses said that a loud bang was heard at the time of the incident, and thick smoke rose from the entrance of the hotel, and government soldiers followed. A former Somali defence minister was killed in an exchange of fire with armed men.