Former PM Khaire Returns to Jayga Home as Former President Sharif’s Marinayo 2.0 Standoff Continues

MOGADISHU – The Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), Mahad Mohamed Salad, has successfully escorted former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire out of the Howlwadaag district residence, near Sayidka and Villa Smalia, he had recently occupied, reportedly a property owned by Member of Parliament Mohamed Abukar Jacfar, and returned him to his home in the Jayga area near the Jazeera Hotel.

The development follows a NISA-led mediation that persuaded Khaire to vacate the residence where fierce clashes had erupted between his forces and government troops from Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Videos shared on social media showed extensive damage to the building’s structure from artillery fire and heavy weaponry exchanged by both sides.

Former PM to Address Media

Khaire has now invited members of the media to his residence in the Jayga area to deliver a press conference. The former prime minister’s statement is expected to address the events of the past two days, including his version of the clashes and the mediation that led to his relocation.

The press conference comes amid intense international pressure, with the United States and United Kingdom urgently intervening in the matter and issuing warnings regarding the heavy fighting that erupted in the capital.

Former President Sharif’s Situation Remains Unresolved

While the situation surrounding former Prime Minister Khaire has been de-escalated through NISA mediation, the status of former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed remains active and unresolved. Sharif, who had positioned himself in the Marinayo area of Abdiasis district in a symbolic move echoing the 2021 Badbaado Qaran crisis, has not yet been part of a similar resolution.

The Marinayo neighborhood holds deep political significance. In 2021, current President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud established his headquarters there while organizing opposition forces against former President Farmajo’s attempt to extend his term without elections. Sharif’s decision to position himself in the same area has led many Somalis to label the current crisis “Marinayo 2.0.”

Constitutional Crisis Deepens

At the core of the impasse remains a constitutional dispute over President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s mandate. His four-year term expired on May 15, 2026, under the 2012 Provisional Constitution. The opposition, alongside legal and political voices in Somalia and the international community, contends that his authority to mobilize state forces ended on that date. Mohamud, however, maintains he has an additional year in office under constitutional amendments passed by parliament in March 2026.

International partners including the UN, African Union, EU, IGAD, the United States, and the United Kingdom have urged renewed dialogue between the Somali government and opposition groups following the collapse of US and UK mediated talks earlier this month.

Conflicting Narratives of the Violence

The government has accused opposition leaders of orchestrating an armed coup attempt. Defense Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi compared opposition forces to Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), describing them as the group’s “Somali wing” without providing evidence. Fiqi also claimed, without substantiation, that some opposition politicians had been “hired by the United Arab Emirates.”

Opposition figures have dismissed these allegations, maintaining that their actions focus on protecting constitutional principles and transparent electoral procedures. Khaire accused President Mohamud of ordering a targeted military assault, claiming that military drones and anti-tank weapons intended for the fight against Al-Shabaab were instead deployed against political rivals in densely populated civilian areas.

Media Invitation Signals Potential Next Steps

Khaire’s invitation to the media suggests he intends to present his account of the events publicly, potentially laying out his position on the political crisis and any agreements reached during the NISA-mediated negotiations. The press conference will be closely watched by diplomats, political observers, and residents of Mogadishu who remain anxious about the potential for further escalation.

Meanwhile, the unresolved situation surrounding former President Sharif indicates that while one flashpoint has been temporarily defused, the broader political crisis remains far from settled.