Somalia: Fiqi accuses former PM, ex-president of 'coup attempt' amid Mogadishu clashes

MOGADISHU, June 4, 2026 – Somalia's government on Thursday accused a former prime minister and an ex-president of orchestrating an armed coup attempt to destabilise the country, following fierce clashes in the capital between government troops and opposition-aligned militias.

The severe political crisis escalated after hours of heavy fighting around the Mogadishu residences of former prime minister Hassan Ali Khaire and former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, sparking fears of wider conflict in the volatile Horn of Africa nation.

In a strongly worded statement, Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi likened the opposition forces to Sudan's notorious paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), branding them the group's "Somali wing."

"The coup attempt orchestrated by these individuals against the Somali state has been thwarted and is now on the verge of collapse," Fiqi said in a statement posted on social media.

The minister alleged that the opposition figures had mobilised heavily armed militias, adding: "Just as Al-Shabaab hides behind the mask of religion, these groups are attempting to camouflage themselves under the guise of peaceful protests while carrying heavy weaponry."

Without providing evidence, Fiqi further claimed that some of the politicians involved were acting on behalf of foreign interests, alleging they had been "hired by the United Arab Emirates."

- 'Assault' with drones -

The government's allegations followed an equally fierce denunciation from Khaire, who accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of ordering a targeted military assault to eliminate political opponents.

"For more than 20 hours, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has directed a sustained and indiscriminate military assault with the apparent objective of killing me, former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, dozens of respected traditional elders and other political leaders in Mogadishu," Khaire said.

He claimed that military drones and anti-tank weapons intended for the fight against Al-Shabaab jihadists were instead deployed against political rivals in densely populated civilian areas.

The United Nations expressed deep concern over the escalating violence, warning that the clashes had already caused civilian casualties and damaged vital infrastructure.

- Term extension dispute -

The military standoff stems from a bitter, long-running dispute over controversial constitutional amendments signed into law in March.

The sweeping political reforms extended the terms of both the president and parliament from four to five years. The changes have been fiercely rejected by opposition figures, including former presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, who argue the moves lack national consensus and constitute an illegal power grab.

A tense calm returned to parts of the capital late Thursday following local mediation efforts by traditional elders and lawmakers, though heavily armed forces from both sides remained locked in a standoff.

The confrontation marks the most serious political and security crisis in Somalia since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud returned to power in 2022.

GAROWE ONLINE