MOGADISHU – Relative calm returned to Mogadishu on Friday after two days of intense fighting between Somali government forces and opposition-aligned armed groups, violence that displaced civilians, disrupted businesses and raised alarm among regional and international partners.
Heavy gunfire, mortar fire and explosions rocked several districts of the capital on Thursday, particularly in Howlwadaag district near the residences of former president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and former prime minister Hassan Ali Khaire.
The clashes come amid escalating political tensions over constitutional amendments approved by parliament, which opposition leaders say could extend President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s rule and delay elections.
Speaking late Thursday, former prime minister Hassan Ali Khaire accused forces loyal to President Mohamud of attacking opposition figures and vowed to remain in the capital.
“We are not going anywhere; we are staying right here,” Khaire said in a video message. “We will never stop pursuing our legal rights and ensuring that this country holds an election agreed upon by all.”
Khaire also questioned the legitimacy of the president’s mandate, saying, “The president’s term has expired; he is a former president.”
Residents described the violence as among the worst seen in Mogadishu in recent years, with reports of widespread fear and panic across affected neighborhoods.
According to media reports, hundreds of families fled their homes as fighting intensified, while major commercial areas, including parts of Maka al-Mukarama Road and the Bakara market district, were largely deserted.
Civilian casualties were reported, although authorities had not released an official death toll and independent verification was not immediately available.
The African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and other international partners called on all sides to exercise restraint and resolve their differences through dialogue.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the violence, saying it had killed and injured civilians and damaged critical infrastructure.
“The secretary-general strongly condemns all acts of violence and incitement to violence undertaken for political advantage,” a UN statement said. It urged all parties to protect civilians, exercise maximum restraint and seek a peaceful resolution to the political dispute.
Somalia’s Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi blamed opposition leaders for the unrest, while President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud appealed for calm and reiterated the government’s commitment to its electoral plans.
The latest violence has heightened fears that Somalia’s political crisis could undermine security gains made against the Al-Shabaab insurgency and further destabilize the Horn of Africa nation.
