Heavy gunfire in Somali capital as row over election delay escalates

Lead

Heavy gunfire and explosions rocked Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, on Wednesday and Thursday as government forces and opposition-allied fighters clashed over President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's decision to extend his term by a year after it expired in May. The violence, which erupted ahead of planned protests, forced residents to flee their homes and paralysed several districts.

Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire said he was attacked by government forces while preparing for a "peaceful demonstration" the following day. In a social media post, he accused President Mohamud of bearing "full responsibility for today's violent attack on our consultative meeting." Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who was in power from 2009 to 2012, also said security forces targeted his home and accused the government of "illegally altering the constitution."

The US embassy in Mogadishu described the violence as "reckless," according to multiple reports.

Coverage Comparison

Accounts of the clashes vary in detail but converge on the central narrative: gunfire broke out in central Mogadishu, particularly in the Howl Wadaag district, after opposition leaders moved to the city to prepare for protests. Witnesses told AFP they saw armed opposition forces clashing with Somali police, with one witness, Saleban Mahad, reporting that "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."

Al Jazeera and BBC — World reported that government forces and opposition fighters exchanged heavy gunfire, while The Guardian noted that "government troops and militias allied with the opposition have exchanged fire." The government, through its police, described the violence as stemming from "organized attacks" by "heavily armed militias who launched mortar attacks on some neighbourhoods of the capital," stating that security forces repelled the attacks and launched investigations.

Intensity and duration of the clashes were reported differently: The Guardian said fighting began around 5pm on Wednesday and continued into Thursday morning, with thousands of government troops deployed in the Howl Wadaag and Abdiasis districts. Al Jazeera reported that the fighting ended a period of improving security in Mogadishu, with one resident, Mustafa, saying, "We haven't seen fighting this bad in years."

The BBC reported that the violence continued overnight, while another Al Jazeera report noted that by Friday, the government declared the districts of Abdiaziz and Hawlwadag calm, with the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism stating that "opposition group militias have been disarmed and removed, and civilians have returned to their daily lives." However, UN officials warned that the humanitarian impact remains severe, with the UN refugee agency reporting at least 13 people killed and 189 wounded, and some 12,500 households displaced.

Key Claims

• Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire said he was attacked by government forces and that the president's forces had "directed a sustained and indiscriminate military assault with the apparent objective of killing me," according to his social media posts and his later remarks to a press conference.
• Khaire said he would be prepared to fight again if attacked, telling reporters, "If we are attacked again, we will defend ourselves," and accusing the authorities of using force against political opponents.
• The government has not responded to Khaire's remarks, although officials have previously described recent security operations in Mogadishu as measures to strengthen security and prevent actions that could threaten public order.
• Traditional elders, international partners, and regional actors have intensified mediation efforts in recent days to prevent further violence and encourage dialogue, as reported by AllAfrica.
• The clashes occurred amid opposition rejection of President Mohamud's term extension, which the opposition and regional leaders have called a power grab and unconstitutional. The government has rejected these allegations, with Mohamud arguing that parliament lawfully extended his term.
• Planned protests were scheduled for Thursday against the term extension, but their fate was uncertain due to the violence. Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said the violence would not halt the demonstrations, stating, "If the President and his soldiers think that we are afraid or that we will flee, we are not going to run away."

Perspectives

Government and Opposition

The government and opposition have traded blame for the violence. Government officials, through police statements, described the clashes as stemming from "organized attacks" by armed militias linked to political groups trying to secure power, stating that state security forces repelled the attacks. The government also said the planned protests would undermine security in a city still grappling with armed violence.

The opposition, led by figures such as Khaire and Ahmed, accuses the government of using force against political opponents and of illegally altering the constitution to extend the president's term. They have vowed to continue their demonstrations and to defend themselves if attacked again.

International Response

The US embassy in Mogadishu described the violence as "reckless," a characterization carried by multiple outlets. The United Nations called for restraint, and traditional elders, international partners, and regional actors have intensified mediation efforts to encourage dialogue.

The UN refugee agency reported significant casualties and displacement, with at least 13 people killed and 189 wounded, and some 12,500 households displaced as a result of the fighting.