Government troops and opposition fighters engaged in intense gunfire in the capital of Somali, Mogadishu, on Thursday, as tensions escalated over delays in the electoral process.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term officially ended on May 15, but he extended his presidency for an additional year, a move the opposition has labeled unconstitutional.
In response, they organized protests for Thursday.
Residents reported hearing gunfire in multiple neighborhoods throughout the night.
Police stated they were undertaking a “large-scale security operation” against “heavily armed militias” responsible for mortar attacks in certain areas.
Following the expiration of the president’s term, discussions between the federal government and opposition factions commenced but failed to yield any consensus.
President Mohamud has been striving to transition Somalia towards democratic elections, moving away from a system where clan elders select members of parliament, who in turn elect a president.
The last one-person, one-vote election in Somalia took place in 1969, with the country enduring civil conflict for over three decades.
Former Prime Minister, Hassan Ali Khaire, reported that he faced aggression from government forces while preparing for the scheduled “peaceful” protests.
”The accountability for any injuries or damages from this incident rests with the president whose term has lapsed,” he stated on social media platform X.
”This assault is a serious violation of the constitutional rights of Somali citizens and a deliberate effort to stifle peaceful assembly.”
The exact number of casualties remains unknown, and the president has yet to issue a statement regarding the violence.
In a post on X, former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, asserted that the unrest would not deter the planned demonstrations.
”If the President and his troops believe we are intimidated or will retreat, they are mistaken,” he declared.
The US embassy in Mogadishu condemned the violence as “reckless,” urging leaders on all sides to maintain stability and resolve disputes through non-violent means.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong