Somalia on edge as opposition calls mass protests amid deadly clashes in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A national dialogue conference set to be convened by the outgoing Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on May 10 was overshadowed by opposition calls for mass protests linked to forced evictions in the capital, Mogadishu.

Former Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and other leaders of the opposition-backed Council for Somalia’s Future announced they would lead demonstrations against the government, which will take place next Sunday, urging residents displaced from their homes to join the protests.

The protest call came after security operations carried out by government forces ahead of the planned talks triggered anger among residents and opposition figures. Several neighborhoods in Mogadishu have seen demolitions and displacement operations in recent days, with some incidents escalating into armed confrontations.

Late Wednesday, government troops launched an operation in the Warlaliska area of the Dayniile district, where they encountered armed resistance from residents, according to witnesses and local reports.

Reports indicated that several people were killed in the fighting, though the exact death toll remained unclear. Tensions remained high in the area on Thursday. This comes as the 4-year term of Mohamud will expire on May 15, 2026. 

Opposition leaders accused President Hassan Sheikh of pushing the country into a dangerous political crisis that could undermine confidence in Somalia’s electoral process and worsen insecurity.

The federal government has not yet publicly responded to the opposition’s accusations or the reported casualties from the clashes.

GAROWE ONLINE