Amid escalating tensions, violent clashes erupted between opposition supporters and state security forces in Mogadishu, Somalia's capital, sparking ongoing confrontations as of Thursday. The unrest followed a turbulent night of violence amidst plans for an "anti-government" demonstration. While authorities have yet to release official casualty numbers, international voices including the U.N. and the U.S. have issued urgent calls for restraint, with both the Somali government and opposition trading accusations over the…

Mohamed DhaysaneWednesday June 3, 2026 Somali forces, working with international partners, killed 28 al-Shabaab militants in coordinated operations in the Hiran and Middle Shabelle regions, according to an official statement released Tuesday. Among those killed in the airstrikes was Abdirahman Abdi Mudallib, identified as a senior terrorist figure in Hiran, along with five other militants. The Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency said Mudallib had played a direct role in organizing and plotting attacks in the…

AXADLE, Somalia — Puntland State on Thursday mounted a sharp attack on Somalia’s federal leadership, accusing it of creating a "constitutional vacuum" and blaming President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for armed raids carried out against former state leaders in Mogadishu. The rebuke came after a cabinet session in Garowe led by Puntland State’s Acting President and Vice President, Ilyaas Lugatoor. In a strongly framed statement, the cabinet denounced "armed confrontations targeting civilians and former senior leaders" in the…

Thursday June 4, 2026 Smoke billowed above Mogadishu’s Howl Wadaag neighbourhood on Thursday after reports of mortar fire, as the Somali capital endured some of its most intense fighting in years. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Government troops and opposition-aligned militias have clashed violently in Somalia’s capital, leaving property damaged and forcing some residents to abandon their homes. As the confrontation gathered pace from Wednesday afternoon, opposition figures who had joined with militias were reported to have…

June 4, 2026 (DJIBOUTI, Djibouti) — As political tensions escalate in Somalia, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) warned Friday that recent violence in Mogadishu threatens the country’s fragile progress and urged swift steps to prevent further bloodshed. IGAD condemned all acts of violence and urged every party involved to show maximum restraint, work to reduce tensions, and seek resolution through peaceful, inclusive, and constructive dialogue. "At this critical moment, preserving peace, stability,…

ADDIS ABABA — The African Union Commission said Thursday it was deeply alarmed by the latest security developments in Mogadishu, where armed clashes have broken out in civilian neighborhoods, and it called on political actors to end the violence at once. In a statement released from its headquarters in Addis Ababa, the Commission urged "all parties to immediately stop the fighting and exercise maximum restraint, protect civilians, and refrain from actions that could further escalate tensions." The warning comes amid…

Thursday June 4, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — The African Union and the United Nations on Thursday demanded an immediate end to fighting in Mogadishu after government forces and opposition-aligned militias traded gunfire in civilian neighborhoods, a flare-up that has intensified concerns Somalia’s political standoff could tip into broader unrest. The African Union Commission said it was alarmed by the reported security situation in the capital, including armed clashes in residential areas. It called on all sides to stop the…

by BRIAN ORUTAThursday June 4, 2026 Former Somalia president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo/HANDOUT Former Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has sharply criticized President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accusing him of fueling the latest wave of political turmoil and deadly violence in Mogadishu as the country slips deeper into a constitutional and electoral standoff. In a statement issued on Thursday, Farmaajo said the president had brushed aside repeated appeals for consensus, tampered with the electoral and constitutional…

Thursday June 4, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — More than 10 hours of intense fighting between Somali government forces and armed groups aligned with the opposition shook Mogadishu on Wednesday, cutting off roads, disrupting airport traffic and sending residents in parts of the capital scrambling for safety. The violence began at Dabka junction, where government forces and security guards linked to former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire each blamed the other for triggering the confrontation. Police said masked gunmen opened fire on…

Somalia: Fiqi accuses former PM, ex-president of 'coup attempt' amid Mogadishu clashes MOGADISHU, June 4, 2026 – Somalia’s government on Thursday accused a former prime minister and an ex-president of staging an armed bid to overthrow the state, after intense fighting broke out in the capital between government forces and militias aligned with the opposition. The crisis deepened after hours of heavy gunfire and…