Police Showcased Weapons Following Mogadishu Clashes

MOGADISHU – Somali police on Thursday evening displayed a cache of weapons and military vehicles they claimed were seized during clashes in Mogadishu between government forces and armed groups linked to opposition politicians.

At a press briefing in Mogadishu, police officials showcased an assortment of weapons, including machine guns and military vehicles, which they said had been captured during security operations conducted over the past 24 hours. The display was intended to demonstrate the government’s assertion that it had successfully neutralized what it described as an armed threat.

The clashes, which lasted several hours in parts of Mogadishu, involved government security forces and fighters aligned with former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre and former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, according to government officials. Opposition figures have disputed aspects of the government’s account of the events, offering alternative narratives of how the violence began and who was responsible.

Police stated that the operation aimed to maintain security in the capital and recover weapons allegedly used during the fighting. Police did not immediately provide independent evidence to support claims regarding the origin of the seized equipment, nor did they offer documentation linking the weapons directly to the opposition figures they named.

The violence left an unknown number of people dead and injured, although no official casualty figures have been released. Residents reported hearing heavy gunfire and explosions in several districts of the city, including the Abdiaziz, Howlwadaag, and Heliwaa areas. Medical sources indicated that casualties had been admitted to local hospitals, but authorities have not released official numbers.

Clashes Occur Amid Deepening Political Crisis

The clashes occurred amid growing political tensions over Somalia’s electoral process and constitutional reforms, issues that have deepened divisions between the federal government and opposition groups in recent months. The fighting marked one of the most serious security confrontations in Mogadishu since the political crisis over President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s expired mandate began.

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. The diplomatic push followed the collapse of US and UK mediated talks earlier this month, which ended without a breakthrough on May 15, the same day President Mohamud’s four-year term expired under the 2012 Provisional Constitution.

The United Nations, regional body IGAD, and several international partners have expressed concern over the recent violence, urging all sides to exercise restraint and resolve their differences through dialogue. Diplomats have warned against a repeat of the political crisis of 2021, when disputes over elections triggered armed confrontations in Mogadishu.

Government and Opposition Offer Conflicting Narratives

Defense Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi has accused opposition leaders of orchestrating an armed coup attempt, comparing opposition forces to Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and 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. Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali 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.

Fiqi’s comparison of opposition factions to Sudan’s RSF has drawn attention, with analysts noting that such rhetoric escalates political tensions rather than reducing them. The government has not provided independent evidence to support its claims about foreign backing for opposition forces.

Weapons Display Raises Questions

The police weapons display, while intended to demonstrate government success, also raised questions about the scale of the armed confrontation and the sources of the weaponry involved. Police did not specify how the weapons were recovered or where they had been stored before the clashes.

The display included several military vehicles and a variety of machine guns and small arms. However, police did not provide serial numbers, documentation, or other evidence that would independently verify claims that the weapons belonged to opposition-aligned fighters. Without such verification, the evidentiary value of the display remains limited.

Calls for Dialogue Intensify

The United States and United Kingdom have both issued statements expressing alarm over the violence and calling for restraint. The U.S. Embassy warned that decisions taken in the coming hours and days could have long-term consequences for Somalia, while the UK called on all parties to maintain composure and participate in broad, constructive discussions to peacefully address tensions.

The United States delivered one of its most explicit public statements against the use of force on political protesters in Somalia, with U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Justin Davis stating that violence against peaceful demonstrators was “never acceptable.”

Former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has warned that President Mohamud is standing where his political downfall could begin. “Today, when he stands and says he has added another year to his term, I believe he is standing in the very place where his political downfall could begin,” Sharif stated.

Situation Stabilizes But Tensions Remain

Despite the unrest, security officials reported that the situation in the capital had largely stabilized by Friday, with additional forces deployed to areas affected by the fighting and security operations continuing across the city. However, the underlying political disputes that triggered the violence remain unresolved.

Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the clashes are ongoing, according to police officials. It remains unclear whether those investigations will be conducted independently or by authorities aligned with the federal government, which opposition figures accuse of bias.

The Puntland administration has accused President Mohamud of unlawfully remaining in office following the expiration of his four-year term, adding to the pressure on the federal government from regional states. The political crisis shows no sign of abating, and diplomats continue to urge all parties to return to negotiations.