Sunday May 10, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s federal government on Sunday defended its decision to restrict planned opposition demonstrations in Mogadishu to a single venue, saying citywide protests could endanger civilians, disrupt essential services and turn political tensions into street confrontation.
In a statement, the Ministry of Information said the government respected citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly, expression and political participation. But it said those rights must be exercised in a lawful and orderly way that protects public safety and the normal functioning of the capital.
“Peaceful demonstration is a legitimate democratic right, and the Government has no objection to citizens expressing their views in a lawful, peaceful, and orderly manner,” the statement said.
The statement accused opposition organizers of rejecting the designated site and announcing 22 separate protest locations across Mogadishu. The government said that plan was intended to paralyze the city and divide neighborhoods along clan lines rather than enable an orderly civic demonstration.
“This is not responsible political expression; it is an act of violent political mobilization that risks undermining the peace, security, and daily lives of the nearly four million residents of Mogadishu,” the statement said.
The government said it was also concerned by what it described as plans for five consecutive days of demonstrations across the capital. It said the scale, rhetoric and organization of the protests posed serious risks to public order, civilian safety, essential services and daily life in Mogadishu.
The ministry said security reports indicated that armed elements linked to, or aligned with, opposition figures had positioned themselves in different parts of the city, including densely populated civilian areas. It said such actions could expose residents to danger and use civilian neighborhoods as cover for political mobilization.
The statement also criticized former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, chairman of the opposition Somali Future Council, over comments the government said referred to former warlord and Sen. Abdi Hassan Awale Qeybdiid surviving armed battles.
The government said Sharif had reportedly assured Qeybdiid that he would also survive the “upcoming battle.” The ministry described the remark as irresponsible and said it risked encouraging supporters to treat political activity as a battlefield rather than a lawful civic exercise.
“No political group has the right to impose a multi-day paralysis on Mogadishu, endanger civilians, block essential roads, intimidate communities, or turn political disagreement into street confrontation,” the statement said.
The ministry said security forces had been deployed for preventive and protective reasons. It said security agencies had been instructed to act with restraint, professionalism and respect for human rights while distinguishing peaceful citizens from anyone carrying weapons, inciting violence, damaging property, obstructing major roads or provoking confrontation.
The government called on political actors to de-escalate their rhetoric, avoid mobilizing armed supporters, comply with public order requirements and pursue grievances through peaceful, constitutional and institutional channels.
The statement came as tensions rose between the federal government and opposition leaders over planned demonstrations linked to forced evictions, demolitions and disputed land ownership in Mogadishu.
Opposition leaders have said the protests will be peaceful and should take place across districts in the Banadir region, including areas affected by demolitions. They accuse the federal government of displacing residents from homes and businesses without adequate legal process, compensation or justification.
Government and Banadir regional officials have rejected those accusations, saying some demolitions are necessary to reclaim public land and improve urban planning. But the issue has become a major political flashpoint, adding to broader disputes over constitutional changes, elections and the balance of power in Somalia’s political system.
