Clashes Erupt in Mogadishu Over Election Delay

Gunfire and explosions erupted in several neighborhoods of Mogadishu on Wednesday and continued into Thursday as government forces and opposition-allied militias exchanged fire ahead of planned antigovernment protests. The clashes damaged buildings and forced residents to flee their homes. Police said the violence stemmed from organized attacks linked to political groups seeking power.

Background to the Protests The protests were called in response to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s decision to extend his term after it expired last month, which also delayed elections. The opposition views the move as an effort to centralize power, while the government has rejected those allegations.

The Associated Press reported a large number of people in the streets and a heavy security presence with police patrolling. Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire posted on X that security forces had targeted him and accused the government of using heavy weaponry against political opponents and civilians.

The African Union called for restraint and expressed deep concern over clashes in residential areas. The European Union and the U.S. embassy in Mogadishu issued similar statements. Witnesses told Reuters that a mortar shell landed on a neighbor’s house, injuring a mother, and that two armored vehicles were set ablaze. There have been no official reports of casualties.