Mogadishu Under Fire as Political Crisis Spirals Into Violence

A fight broke out overnight in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, with heavy gunfire lighting up the sky as government forces engaged opposition fighters in the north of the city after a row over delayed elections escalated.

Police said they launched a “large-scale security operation” against militias they accuse of firing on government positions.

It started late on Sunday and was ongoing into Monday morning.

“Government forces are conducting a large-scale security operation against a group of heavily armed militias who attacked government positions,” police spokesman Abdifatah Aden Hassan said in a statement.

The fighting is a result of an eight-month-long political deadlock.

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Escalation of Violence in Mogadishu Following Extension of President’s Mandate and Opposition Protests

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s mandate officially ended on 15 May, but lawmakers extended his term by a year in order to give more time to prepare for elections, which opposition leaders described as unconstitutional.

Former prime minister Hassan Ali Khaire has condemned government action: “We condemn the violence against the Somali people by the regime,” he said, “We will continue with the protests despite the gunfire.”

Former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who is heading the alliance of opposition leaders, placed the blame for the violence on the government: “The regime is responsible for this violence,” he said, “We will not be intimidated.”

Witnesses in key government buildings have reported continuous gunfire and explosions.

The city has emptied, with residents moving out of northern Mogadishu to safer areas as the number of casualties is as yet unclear.

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Political Instability and Escalating Violence in Somalia Amidst Calls for Dialogue and Election Reform

The US embassy in Mogadishu described the violence as “reckless” and has called for all parties to stop fighting, stating: “We call on Somali leaders to resolve their differences through dialogue and avoid further bloodshed.”

Somalia last had a one-person, one-vote election in 1969 and political differences frequently devolve into armed clashes between forces allied to rival leaders.

Authorities say they do not know how long the large-scale operation will last.

Officials state its purpose is to restore order as the Opposition leaders are vowing to continue the protests unless a reset election calendar is established and the current government relinquishes power.

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The President of The Federal Republic of Somalia,
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Credits Files.