The streets of Mogadishu turned into a battlefield as government security forces clashed with heavily armed opposition militias. The violence erupted after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, whose official term expired on May 15, unilaterally extended his time in office by a year—a move the opposition decries as unconstitutional.
While the government characterized its actions as a necessary security operation to neutralize militias launching mortar attacks, the opposition claims they were targeted while attempting to organize demonstrations.
Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire accused the government of suppressing constitutional rights, while former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed vowed that the opposition would not be intimidated by the state's show of force.
Residents reported mortar fire hitting civilian areas, causing injuries and property damage, though the full extent of the casualties remains unclear. Despite the instability, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority insisted that operations at Aden Adde Airport continue as scheduled.
International actors, including the U.S. embassy, have labeled the violence 'reckless' and are calling for a return to dialogue. The standoff highlights the persistent fragility of a nation that has struggled with civil war for over three decades and remains locked in a bitter dispute over how to transition to a functional democratic system.
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