MOGADISHU — Heavy fighting between Somali government forces and armed groups aligned with opposition figures raged for more than 10 hours in Mogadishu, disrupting traffic, affecting access to the airport and forcing residents to flee parts of the capital, witnesses and officials said Thursday.
The clashes began late Wednesday around the Dabka junction, with government authorities and security personnel loyal to former prime minister Hassan Ali Khaire trading accusations over responsibility for the confrontation.
Police said armed men attacked a security checkpoint using heavy weapons, including assault rifles. Khaire, however, accused government forces of targeting a consultative meeting attended by traditional elders, lawmakers, opposition politicians, youth representatives and civil society activists.
The violence later spread to several districts after opposition leaders accused government forces of attacking the residence of former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.
Residents reported intense gunfire and explosions across parts of the city.
“The shooting lasted for about 15 minutes before it subsided. They even used RPGs, and the sound of the explosions could be heard across the surrounding neighbourhoods,” witness Saleban Mahad told AFP.
Banadir regional police commander Mahdi Omar Mumin said security forces were close to completing an operation against what he described as heavily armed militias accused of firing mortars into residential areas.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies.
“Security agencies are also conducting ongoing operations to eliminate these armed militias, and anyone involved in these acts will be swiftly brought to justice,” he said.
The fighting disrupted movement across Mogadishu, with several major roads blocked and access to the city’s international airport affected. Some residents fled their homes amid fears that the clashes could spread further.
The violence erupted hours after the Banadir regional administration announced that opposition groups would be allowed to hold demonstrations on Thursday at designated locations under strict security conditions.
Authorities approved rallies at Banadir Stadium in Abdiaziz district, Mogadishu Stadium in Warta Nabadda district and the Jaamacadaha area of Hodan district.
Opposition leaders rejected the restrictions, arguing that peaceful assembly is a constitutional right and should not be limited to specific venues.
The unrest comes amid growing political tensions over electoral reforms, constitutional amendments and Somalia’s political transition.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration has sought to move the country from its long-standing indirect electoral system, in which clan elders play a central role, to a one-person, one-vote model.
Opposition leaders support democratic elections but argue that any transition must be based on broad political consensus, warning that unilateral reforms could deepen divisions and undermine stability.
The latest clashes have heightened concerns that Somalia’s political dispute could further strain security in a country still battling an Islamist insurgency and fragile state institutions.
