Heavy gunfire erupted in Somalia's capital overnight, with smoke rising over Mogadishu on Thursday, according to AFP journalists. The violence follows pitched battles between political factions ahead of planned protests against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term extension.
Political Crisis Deepens
President Mohamud plunged Somalia into a new political crisis in mid-May when he announced that his term, originally due to expire on May 15, would be extended for a year. The opposition and regional leaders have rejected this move, calling for demonstrations against it in Mogadishu on Thursday.
As opposition leaders arrived in the city ahead of the protests on Wednesday, clashes broke out and continued sporadically through the night. Police stated they were conducting a large-scale security operation against heavily armed militias who launched mortar attacks on some neighborhoods of the capital.
Former Prime Minister Targeted
Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire reported being attacked by government forces on Wednesday after moving from his base in the heavily fortified green zone around the airport to his residence in the city to participate in the protests. In a social media post late Wednesday, Khaire said, An attack was launched against us by forces commanded by the president whose term has expired, adding they had been preparing for a peaceful demonstration the following day.
An AFP journalist filmed panicked residents in the Howl Wadaag district near his home, with loud gunshots audible in the background. Witnesses reported seeing armed opposition forces clashing with Somali police. Gunfire was also heard near the residence of former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, close to the popular Lido Beach area.
Election Stalemate
President Mohamud has been attempting to move Somalia toward democratic elections, replacing a system based around clan elders. He argues that he was granted an extra year in the presidency when a new constitution was passed by parliament in March, setting the framework for polls. However, with the country deeply divided among rival clans and much of it under the control of Al-Shabab, an Islamist insurgent group, little progress has been made on organizing elections beyond a few localized areas. Opposition and regional leaders strongly oppose Mohamud's plan, viewing it as an attempt to centralize power.
