Clashes broke out on April 25 in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, between several armed fighters as the term of President Farmaajo was extended by the Parliament. Media reports said gunfire was heard late into the night yesterday and several witnesses reported scenes of burning vehicles and tense standoffs in the downtown.
The fighting is between the special forces of the Somali Federal Army, loyal to the current government, and soldiers who have mutinied and sided with the protesters. They reject the recent extension of the mandate of President Mohamed Farmaajo, who obtained from parliament the mandate to remain the head of the Federal Republic of Somalia for the next two years.
While his term officially came to an end on February 8, 2021, the Head of the State was granted this term extension as the government failed to organize elections on time. The presidential camp and the opposition blame each other for the failure to organize the elections, which were supposed to bring some semblance of stability to the country.
The situation has sparked a wave of criticism from the international community and the opposition, but has also caused divisions within the security forces. On April 12, former police chief Saadaq Omar Hassan was fired after he said he was suspending the parliament for extending the president's term.
On twitter, former president Hassan Sheik Mohamud, now an opposition leader, accused President Farmaajo of trying to eliminate him by attacking his house. Although the government has denied the accusations and said the situation is now under control, many witnesses say it remains tense.
According to several experts, the only way to ease tensions is through dialog between the two parties, who seem determined to stick to their positions. Otherwise, the situation could lead to a major security crisis, which could provide a breeding ground for the shebab jihadists. This Jihadist group has been operating for several decades in Somalia.
For the time being, no reports of the clashes have been made public.
Moutiou Adjibi Nourou
(EBID) - EBID aims to allocate nearly 41% of its commitments to projects with environmental and...
Mahindra & Mahindra is considering a CKD assembly plant near Durban to strengthen its presence i...
AFC disbursed €43 million for Côte d’Ivoire solar project Financing supports 66 MW pla...
Mobile phones have become essential tools for work, education, payments and staying connected across...
MTN Ghana launches crackdown on mobile money agent fraud Audits trigger warnings, suspensions...
Madagascar approved a law to integrate birth registration into a nationwide biometric census program. The reform targets adults without birth...
The DRC signed a defense contract with Turkey’s MKE to upgrade military equipment for its armed forces. The partnership focuses on operational...
Burkina Faso approved a national border governance strategy covering land and air borders for 2026–2030. The plan aligns with Sahel regional...
Mali participated as guest of honor at Guinea’s third Skills Olympiad focused on vocational excellence. Officials from both countries aligned on...
Burkina Faso launches “SORA” university series filming in Ouagadougou 25-episode project explores student life challenges and...
The Virunga Gorilla Marathon is a relatively recent initiative held in the Virunga region, a volcanic mountain range straddling the borders of the...