Get you up to speed: Gunfire erupts in Mogadishu before protests against Somali president’s rule
Heavy gunfire erupted in central Mogadishu as former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire reported being attacked by government forces ahead of planned protests against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s extended term. Witnesses stated that clashes occurred between armed opposition forces and Somali police, lasting about 15 minutes with reports of rocket-propelled grenades being used.
The Somali government has not provided details on the number of casualties or arrests resulting from the violence. Investigations into the clashes, which erupted just before the planned protests, are ongoing amidst calls for accountability from opposition leaders.
Opposition leaders, including former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, condemned the attack on Hassan Ali Khaire, asserting it aims to incite further violence and undermine the planned protests against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Amid escalating tensions, the international community, led by the United States and the United Kingdom, has attempted to facilitate dialogue between the conflicting parties, though meaningful progress remains elusive.
What remains unclear — It is not yet known how many individuals were involved in the clashes between armed opposition forces and Somali police.
Gunfire reported in Mogadishu amid planned protests against Somali president
NewsGunfire erupts in Mogadishu before protests against Somali president’s rule
Ex-Somali PM Khaire accuses government forces of attacking him before planned antigovernment protests in Mogadishu.
Somalia’s ex-Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire says he was attacked by government forces before planned protests [Feisal Omar/Reuters]
Heavy gunfire has broken out in central Mogadishu as Somalia’s former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire says he has been attacked by government forces before planned protests.
“An attack was launched against us by forces commanded by the president whose term has expired,” Khaire said in a social media post on Wednesday, adding they had been preparing for a “peaceful demonstration” the following day.
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President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud “bears full responsibility for today’s violent attack on our consultative meeting”, he said.
Somalia has fallen into yet another political crisis after Mohamud announced that his term had been extended for a year after it was due to expire on May 15.
The opposition and regional leaders have rejected the move and demonstrations were due to take place on Thursday.
Khaire relocated from his base in the heavily fortified green zone around the airport to his residence in the city, in order to take part in the protests.
RPGs, gunshots
An AFP news agency journalist filmed images of panicked residents in the Howl Wadaag district near his home, with loud gunshots heard in the background. Witnesses told AFP they saw armed opposition forces clashing with Somali police.
“The shooting lasted for about 15 minutes before it subsided. They even used RPGs [rocket-propelled grenades], and the sound of the explosions could be heard across the surrounding neighbourhoods,” said one witness, Saleban Mahad.
The president has been attempting to move Somalia towards democratic elections, replacing a system based around clan elders.
Mohamud argues he was given an extra year in the presidency when a new constitution was passed by parliament in March that set the framework for polls.
But with the country deeply divided between rival clans, and much of it under the control of al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked armed group, there has been little progress on organising elections beyond a few localised pockets.
Opposition and regional leaders have strongly opposed Mohamud’s plan, seeing it as an attempt to centralise power.
Foreign powers, primarily the United States and the United Kingdom, have attempted to broker talks between the government and opposition to little avail.
Reaction to attack on Khaire
Ex-President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has also moved into central Mogadishu for Thursday’s protest. He criticised the attack on Khaire, saying the president “seeks to cause further bloodshed despite not having a legitimate official mandate – his time has expired”.
“This attack will not stop the demonstrations by residents of the capital who are protesting against injustice, displacement, and the abuse of government power,” he said on X.
Previous presidents have also stayed in office beyond their mandates.
Former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo stayed more than a year in office after the official end of his mandate in 2021, triggering violence and condemnation from the international community.