Former president rejects government limits on Mogadishu protest sites

Wednesday June 3, 2026

Mogadishu (AX) — Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said Tuesday that opposition leaders will not accept any government attempt to confine planned anti-government protests to a single site in Mogadishu.

Addressing a gathering of opposition politicians, Sharif argued that peaceful demonstration is protected by the constitution and that residents should be able to take to the streets throughout the capital.

“The protest should take place wherever it can. The whole city should come out,” Sharif said, urging the public to join the planned rallies.

The federal government has said the demonstrations can only be held at Eng. Yarisow Stadium, pointing to security concerns and the need to preserve public order. Opposition figures have pushed back, saying the government has no authority to limit peaceful political expression to one designated venue.

Sharif said the authorities had already been notified of the opposition’s protest plans and insisted there was no valid reason to narrow where the rallies could happen.

He also urged young people not to give in to fear of arrest or intimidation, saying defending public freedoms demands both courage and participation.

The former president accused the government of arresting and mistreating people whose political views have been critical of the administration. He said the opposition’s objections were not theoretical but reflected experiences the Somali public has already seen.

Sharif said opposition leaders plan to move ahead with the demonstrations, describing them as a constitutional right that cannot be taken away.

The opposition is expected to launch anti-government rallies in Mogadishu this week as political tensions deepen over elections, constitutional changes and the wider transition.

The confrontation follows talks between the federal government and opposition leaders that ended without an agreement. Opposition figures accuse President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration of pressing ahead with major reforms without consensus, while federal officials say the country must advance toward one-person, one-vote elections and safeguard the capital from unrest.