Farmaajo warns Somalia government against curbing Mogadishu protests

Sunday May 10, 2026

Mogadishu (AX) — Former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo on Saturday accused the federal government of seeking to curb and contain planned protests in Mogadishu, saying any effort to limit peaceful demonstrations would amount to a breach of citizens’ constitutional rights.

His remarks came as tensions deepened between the government and opposition leaders over the location of Sunday’s protest. Authorities have directed demonstrators to assemble at Konis Stadium, but opposition figures insist the rallies should spread across Mogadishu, including areas hit by demolitions and land disputes.

The planned protest is being driven by growing public anger over forced evictions, alleged corruption, political bias and contested land ownership in the capital. Opposition leaders say residents have been displaced without due process, while federal and Banadir regional officials argue the demolitions are necessary to recover public land and advance urban planning.

“I join the calls of Somali authorities that the outgoing government of President Hassan Sheikh, whose term is ending, refrain from any action to suppress Somali citizens who are peacefully demonstrating to express the immense suffering they have experienced under his leadership,” Farmaajo said.

Farmaajo described the demonstrations as a peaceful outlet for public grievances over governance and leadership. He called on security agencies to safeguard citizens’ safety and dignity, not to carry out directives he said run contrary to Somalia’s constitution and laws.

He also cautioned that any attempt to block the protests or confine them too tightly could spark clashes, erode confidence in the security forces and further destabilize the country.

The opposition has rejected the government’s chosen protest venue and says demonstrations will instead be held in several districts across the Banadir region. Opposition leaders have also named politicians to spearhead the protests in different parts of Mogadishu.

The group said it has put in place its own security teams to protect both politicians and civilians taking part in the rallies. That move has intensified concern among residents, many of whom fear the protest could quickly escalate into a confrontation between government forces and opposition-aligned groups.

Anxiety has been mounting across Mogadishu ahead of Sunday’s protest, with residents worried that rival security arrangements, heated political rhetoric and unresolved land disputes could set off armed clashes.

The standoff has emerged as a significant test for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government, which is already under pressure from opposition groups over constitutional amendments, the electoral process and land policy in the capital.

Somalia’s opposition has portrayed the protest as a stand for displaced families and property rights. The government says it supports peaceful assembly, but maintains that demonstrations must be regulated to preserve public order, business activity and security in Mogadishu.