Sunday May 10, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said Sunday that security forces had blocked roads leading to his home and prevented lawmakers and opposition figures from reaching him ahead of planned anti-government demonstrations in Mogadishu.
Sharif, who chairs the opposition Somali Future Council, said on X Spaces that troops had been deployed around parts of the capital and that the movement of politicians and lawmakers had been restricted before Sunday’s protest.
“We are not waging war, we are not carrying guns. We are only carrying our guards,” Sharif said, insisting the opposition had no plans for an armed uprising.
Sharif said the opposition wanted a peaceful demonstration and was not seeking confrontation with security forces. But he warned that the security measures in Mogadishu reflected what he described as “a system that is collapsing.”
He said operations carried out overnight had tightened security across the city, with roads closed, troops deployed and access to opposition figures restricted.
“We want peace, we don’t want war. We want the Somali people to have a chance to express their views,” Sharif said.
The former president called on all sides to avoid actions that could lead to bloodshed, saying any attempt to block peaceful protests would deepen political tensions in the capital.
The Somali Future Council has said Sunday’s demonstrations will take place across districts in the Banadir region. Opposition leaders accuse the federal government of displacing residents from homes and businesses without proper legal process, compensation or justification.
Federal and Banadir regional authorities have rejected that plan, saying the protest will be allowed only at Engineer Yarisow Stadium. Officials said demonstrations elsewhere in Mogadishu would not be permitted because of security concerns.
The standoff has heightened anxiety in the capital, where residents fear the protest could lead to clashes between government forces and opposition supporters.
Sunday’s protest is expected to coincide with a planned meeting between President Mohamud and opposition leaders on key national issues, including constitutional changes and the electoral process. Both issues remain major sources of dispute between the government and its critics.
