Journalist Hanafi helped Shabaab identify five peers who were later killed by the terrorist group.
The new group comprising Kenyans, Tanzanians and Ugandans is believed to have links to al-Shabaab.
The once-pirate ridden Gulf of Aden has enjoyed relative peace for the last 5 years but this may all change
The night operation was a joint Somali and US assault on the al-Qaeda-affiliated insurgents.
An 8-year-old travelling with the pair was taken into protective custody on arrival from Nairobi.
Hanafi arranged press conferences when the Islamists were in control of Mogadishu from 2008-2011.
Police in the area said destruction was caused by a suicide bomber and a car bomb.
The al-Qaeda-linked militants set off a car bomb near a park before attacking the hotel.
Militant group have increased activity in Somalia with a number of attacks on civilians and AU troops
Two airport workers seen handing laptop bag containing explosive to suspected terrorist in security footage.
The black flag of al-Shabaab has been hoisted over the police station and government buildings in the city which is just 45 miles from Mogadishu.
The explosion ripped through a Djibouti-bound Airbus A321 leaving one man dead on 2 February
Blast happened minutes after Dallo Airlines Airbus 321 took off from Mogadishu airport with one reported dead.
Security force truck hits improvised explosive device in coastal district of Lamu.
The carnage followed a coordinated assault by the al-Qaeda linked group.
Transcripts reveal Blair's reaction to death of Princess Diana and lowest moment of Clinton's presidency.
Guantanamo inmate, al-Qaeda operative and life coach: Bin Laden's 'father of death' dies
Over 750 new cases were recorded in the capital in three months of 2015.
Iraqi Abu Nabil was killed in Libya and Abdirhaman Sandhere or 'Ukash' was targeted near Mogadishu.
Jihadi militants from al-Shabaab have released a sickening new video of them killing animals in Kenya.
The terror group al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack, while saying that they have taken hostages at the hotel.
Islamic extremists target Kenya with repeated terror attacks in response to military in Somalia.