Gunfire erupted in the capital city of Somalia, Mogadishu, on Sunday between security forces supporting the government and others opposing President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed’s extended stay in power, reported the BBC.
It remained unclear if there were casualties.
The Somalian government and opposition leaders have been at odds over the lower house of parliament proposal to extend the current federal government’s mandate for the next two years after election talks collapsed.
President Mohamed went on to officially sign the resolution extending his mandate into law. His mandate officially ended in February. The international community including the United Nations and the African Union strongly criticized the move.
The situation got tensed on Sunday after the former president of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accused the forces loyal to the government of attacking his house.
“It’s unfortunate that troops taking orders from [Farmajo] have attacked my residence,” Mohamud wrote on his Twitter account. “I have warned him [Farmajo] previously and I repeat the risk of politicizing security. The responsibility of the consequence will be taken by Farmajo.”
Somalia’s Internal Security Minister, Hassan Hundubey Jimale, denied the former president’s claim and blamed Sunday’s attack on his residence on armed militias. Hassan said the government forces quickly responded to the attack on the minister’s residence and brought it to an end.
Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble appealed for negotiations after the violence.
On Sunday, the UK government also called for restraint and dialogue as fighting broke out in Mogadishu. The British embassy in Somalia said Sunday’s violent clashes were deeply concerning.
The international community continues to urge for dialogue to end the ongoing election impasse in the country after parliament extended President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo’s term by two years.
Last week, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) said that the political deadlock in Somalia was diverting attention from other serious issues including the COVID-19 pandemic, a locust invasion, and Islamist militancy.
