Mogadishu mayor accuses Puntland State leader of inciting unrest in capital
He said unnamed groups were seeking to drag Mogadishu back into insecurity and political disorder.
Tuesday May 26, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — Mogadishu Mayor Hassan Mohamed Hussein Muungaab on Monday accused Puntland State President Said Abdullahi Deni of stoking unrest and political violence in the capital, saying authorities would not allow any attempt to undermine security, traffic, or everyday life in the city.
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Addressing a public event in Mogadishu, Muungaab said residents are entitled to their political views under the constitution, but stressed that demonstrations and political activity must not put public safety at risk.
“Everyone has the freedom of thought and opinion, but it will not be allowed to harm the peace of the city or harm the people in the name of politics,” Muungaab said.
He said unnamed groups were seeking to drag Mogadishu back into insecurity and political disorder.
“Mogadishu is the mirror of the country. If it is peaceful, it will have a positive impact on all of Somalia, and if it is backward, it will affect the entire country,” he said.
His comments come amid growing friction between the federal government and opposition leaders, including Puntland State’s Deni, who is aligned with the Somali Future Council. The opposition coalition has said it plans anti-government protests in Mogadishu in the coming months over elections, constitutional changes and the country’s political transition.
The federal government and opposition remain at an impasse after recent negotiations failed to yield an agreement on the electoral process. Opposition figures accuse President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration of moving ahead with reforms without consensus, while federal officials insist Somalia must advance toward one-person, one-vote elections.
On Sunday night, hundreds of young people gathered at Taleh junction in Hodan district for a protest organized under the slogan “Voice of the Capital.” Organizers said the demonstration was meant to affirm support for peace, stability and Somali unity.
The youths said Mogadishu stands as a symbol of national unity and warned that any effort to weaken the city’s security would not be tolerated.
The rival rallies and sharpened rhetoric have deepened concerns that Somalia’s political dispute could spill further into the streets of the capital, where security forces have recently arrested young protesters and curtailed unauthorized gatherings.
