UN-backed report says Mogadishu clashes kill 13, injure 189

Saturday June 6, 2026

Mogadishu (AX) — Fierce clashes in Somalia’s capital between federal government forces and an armed group aligned with the opposition have left at least 13 people dead, 189 injured and roughly 12,500 households displaced, according to a Protection of Civilians note compiled by the Protection Cluster and UNHCR Somalia.

The June 4 report said the violence erupted on the evening of June 3 near Dabka junction and quickly widened into some of Mogadishu’s most crowded districts, including Hawlwadaag, Abdiaziz, Hodan, Wardhigley and parts of Karaan.

Although the gunfire has reportedly subsided, the report said the humanitarian and protection fallout remains severe.

The fighting unfolded against a backdrop of escalating political friction over President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s mandate and Somalia’s electoral transition. Mohamud maintains that parliament legally extended the terms of federal institutions through constitutional amendments, while opposition figures have denounced the move as a seizure of power.

The clashes raced through densely populated neighborhoods before easing on Friday. The federal government later said it had reestablished control in the affected areas.

Preliminary figures cited in the protection note show that those forced to flee included women, children, older people, people with disabilities and others with specific protection needs. Refugees and asylum seekers were also among those affected, compounding vulnerabilities they already face.

In several areas, civilians were unable to get out while the fighting was underway, leaving them stranded and exposed to danger, the report said.

Protection actors said the violence in such a crowded urban setting had triggered a layered crisis. Civilians faced both immediate and longer-term threats, including deaths and injuries in residential areas, damage to civilian infrastructure, hazardous displacement conditions and diminished access to humanitarian aid.

The report said the breakdown of family and community support systems raised the risk of separation, especially for children, older people and people with disabilities.

Restrictions on movement also made it harder for people to reach essential services and humanitarian assistance.

The note further warned of psychosocial strain and possible protection abuses, including gender-based violence, exploitation and abuse.

Refugees, asylum seekers and other vulnerable groups were said to face even greater danger because of existing vulnerabilities, legal-status obstacles and difficulties accessing aid. Limited access to civil and legal documents could leave them vulnerable to movement restrictions, detention and exclusion from basic services, the report said.

Female-headed households, older people, people with disabilities and children were singled out as particularly at risk because their support networks had been disrupted, their mobility was limited and inclusive services were harder to access.

Protection actors called for a response that is both targeted and inclusive, so that people with specific needs can obtain the support and services they require.

The report also urged all parties to respect international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including the duty to distinguish between civilians and combatants, uphold proportionality, protect civilian infrastructure and guarantee safe, unhindered humanitarian access.

Protection actors additionally called for urgent measures to reduce civilian harm during urban operations and to ensure civilians can move safely.

They said they would keep tracking developments, verifying reports and identifying priority needs as the situation continues to evolve.