Former Somali president says troops blocked his home before Mogadishu protest

Sunday May 10, 2026

Mogadishu (AX) — Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said Sunday that security forces had sealed off roads to his home and stopped lawmakers and opposition figures from reaching him as Mogadishu braced for planned anti-government demonstrations.

Sharif, who leads the opposition Somali Future Council, said during an X Spaces discussion that troops had been stationed in parts of the capital and that the movement of politicians and members of parliament had been curtailed ahead of Sunday’s protest.

He accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration of trying to keep opposition leaders away from the demonstrations, which are being held over forced evictions, demolitions and land disputes in Mogadishu.

“We are not waging war, we are not carrying guns. We are only carrying our guards,” Sharif said, stressing that the opposition had no intention of launching an armed revolt.

Sharif said the group wanted to demonstrate peacefully and was not looking for a confrontation with security forces. Still, he argued that the heavy security response in Mogadishu was evidence of what he called “a system that is collapsing.”

He said overnight operations had further tightened control across the city, with roads blocked, troops deployed and access to opposition figures limited.

“We want peace, we don’t want war. We want the Somali people to have a chance to express their views,” Sharif said.

The former president urged all parties to avoid steps that could trigger bloodshed, warning that any effort to stop peaceful protests would only sharpen the political tensions in the capital.

The Somali Future Council said Sunday’s rallies are set to be held across districts in the Banadir region. Opposition leaders say the federal government has displaced residents from homes and businesses without proper legal process, compensation or justification.

Federal and Banadir regional authorities have rejected that plan, saying the protest will be permitted only at Engineer Yarisow Stadium. Officials said demonstrations elsewhere in Mogadishu would not be allowed because of security concerns.

The confrontation has raised anxiety in the capital, where residents fear the protest could spark clashes between government forces and opposition supporters.

Sunday’s demonstration is also expected to coincide with a planned meeting between President Mohamud and opposition leaders on major national issues, including constitutional changes and the electoral process. Both remain key points of contention between the government and its critics.