Gunfire erupts in Mogadishu ahead of planned anti-government protests

Heavy gunfire broke out in central Mogadishu on Wednesday as Somalia's former prime minister, Hassan Ali Khaire, said government forces had attacked him before planned anti-government protests. Witnesses reported clashes in the Howl Wadaag district near his home, and one said rocket-propelled grenades were used during the shooting. The incident came as opposition figures prepared to demonstrate against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's rule.

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Khaire said in a social media post that an attack had been launched against him by forces commanded by the president, whom he described as having an expired term. He also said Mohamud bore full responsibility for what he called a violent attack on a consultative meeting. According to the supporting report, Khaire had moved from the heavily fortified green zone around the airport to his residence in the city so he could take part in the protests planned for Thursday.

A journalist at the scene filmed panicked residents as gunshots were heard in the background. Witnesses told reporters they saw armed opposition forces clashing with Somali police, and one said the shooting lasted about 15 minutes before subsiding. The reported use of RPGs suggests a level of violence beyond routine crowd control, although the available material does not confirm casualties.

The incident took place in a densely populated part of the capital, raising concern about the immediate security impact for residents and for the opposition's ability to gather publicly. The confrontation matters because it comes during a wider political crisis over the president's extended term. Mohamud announced that his term had been extended for a year after it was due to expire on 15 May, a move rejected by the opposition and regional leaders.

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The dispute has sharpened tensions in a country where efforts to move toward democratic elections have repeatedly run into political division and insecurity. The report says Mohamud argues he was given an extra year in office when a new constitution was passed by parliament in March, setting the framework for polls. It also notes that Somalia remains deeply divided between rival clans and that much of the country is under the control of al-Shabab, the al-Qaeda-linked armed group.

Those conditions have slowed election planning beyond a few localised pockets and have made political competition more volatile in the capital. Foreign powers, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have tried to broker talks between the government and opposition, but with limited success. The supporting material also says former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has moved into central Mogadishu, indicating that other senior political figures are positioning themselves in the city as the protests approach.

What remains unclear is whether the reported gunfire caused injuries or arrests, who exactly was involved in the clashes, and whether the planned demonstrations will go ahead as scheduled.

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