Sunday June 7, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — The Somali Salvation Forum said Saturday it had received indications that security forces were preparing to move against the Mogadishu home of former Somali National Army commander Gen. Odowaa Yusuf Raage. In a statement, the opposition alliance alleged that forces under the command of Aden Mohamed Omar, widely known as Aadan Dheere, and backed by personnel from security agencies were lining up an assault on Odowaa’s residence in Abdiaziz district. The claims could not be independently…

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somalia’s political standoff sharpened on Sunday after former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed accused the federal government of cutting off basic services, blocking movement and turning security forces against opponents amid an escalating dispute over the country’s elections. Speaking at a news conference in Mogadishu alongside another former leader, Farmajo, Sharif said the authorities had disconnected electricity and water to the compound where he was staying, stopped food from being delivered and barred…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Opposition leaders in Somalia accused security forces loyal to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Saturday of preparing operations aimed at former military chief General Odowaa Yusuf Rage and other prominent opposition figures, a claim that has sharpened fears of renewed unrest in the capital. The Somali Future Council, an opposition alliance, said it had obtained information suggesting that members of the Somali National Army and intelligence services were involved in plans directed at General Odowaa,…

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somalia’s federal government is moving to reopen dialogue with opposition leaders as the country heads toward political gatherings in the regional capitals of Dhusamareeb and Jowhar, according to sources familiar with the talks on Saturday. The latest push for mediation is being backed by Turkey, the sources said, as officials look for a way to lower political temperatures in Mogadishu, where tensions have recently contributed to security unrest. During discussions on Friday, the government reiterated…

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…

Thursday June 4, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Heavy gunfire that erupted in Mogadishu on Thursday drew sharp concern from the United States and the United Kingdom, both of which urged Somalia’s political leaders to step back from confrontation and settle their disputes through dialogue. In a warning that underscored the stakes for the country’s fragile security, the U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu said the violence could have far-reaching consequences for Somalia’s stability. “The violence unfolding in Mogadishu is reckless,” the…

Wednesday June 3, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Gunfire erupted Wednesday afternoon at Dabka junction in Mogadishu, where government forces exchanged fire with the security detail of former Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, just hours before opposition groups were set to stage demonstrations in the capital. Videos and photos circulating on social media showed what appeared to be intense shooting in the area. The number of casualties was not immediately known, and the federal government had not released an official account of…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal authorities have tightened security across the capital as opposition groups ready demonstrations in approved locations, deepening a political standoff over the country’s electoral future. Security sources said President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has held consultations with senior security officials and directed the deployment of additional forces along major roads in Mogadishu. On Wednesday morning, the leadership of the Somali National Army (SNA) also met with logistics officials as part…

Tuesday June 2, 2026 Djibouti (AX) — Djiboutian opposition figure Alexis Mohamed Gueldon has accused Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of eroding the country’s federal system, arguing that decisions from Mogadishu have widened political rifts and weakened confidence in federal institutions. In a Monday post on social media, Gueldon said constitutional amendments, political standoffs and strained ties between the federal government and some federal member states have hurt the credibility of Somalia’s federal model. He…

Somalia’s federal government has floated a plan to channel an expected opposition protest into designated parts of Mogadishu, according to security sources, as tensions mount ahead of a major anti-government rally scheduled for next week. MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s federal government has proposed assigning specific locations in Mogadishu for opposition groups to hold demonstrations, according to security sources, as political tensions rise ahead of a planned anti-government rally next week. The proposal was recently…