Government forces and opposition militias clash in Mogadishu districts

Heavy fighting began on Wednesday night, June 3 2026, and continued into Thursday, June 4 2026, in parts of Mogadishu. Government forces and militias aligned with opposition leaders exchanged gunfire in the districts of Howlwadaag and Abdiaziz, according to residents, opposition figures and international media reports.

The clashes disrupted key roads in Mogadishu and restricted access to Aden Adde International Airport.

Security forces tightened their presence across the city, witnesses said. Residents reported heavy weapons fire, explosions and the movement of armed forces through major neighborhoods. Many civilians fled their homes.

Some roads leading to central Mogadishu were blocked. Thousands of civilians were seen leaving affected neighborhoods, Horn Diplomat reported. No official casualty figures were immediately available.

Residents reported injuries, property damage and the destruction of military vehicles. Former Somalia President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed accused government forces of surrounding and attacking his residence. Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire alleged that security forces used heavy weapons in densely populated areas and targeted senior opposition figures.

The government has not publicly responded to the accusations. Constitutional amendments were approved earlier in 2026. Opposition groups organized planned anti-government demonstrations in Mogadishu.

The clashes erupted ahead of those demonstrations, which challenged President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's leadership and recent constitutional changes. The United States condemned the violence and called on all sides to exercise restraint and resolve differences through dialogue. The United Kingdom issued a similar statement.

The US Embassy in Mogadishu described the clashes as reckless and warned Somali leaders of their responsibility to preserve stability. The United Nations urged calm and warned that further political violence could undermine Somalia's fragile security gains. Government forces remain engaged in a long-running campaign against the al-Shabaab insurgency.