MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has formally accepted plans by the opposition Somali Salvation Forum to hold a protest against his administration, urging both sides to coordinate on security measures to ensure the demonstration remains peaceful.
A group of parliamentarians, dispatched by the President, met with opposition leaders in Mogadishu on Tuesday night. During the meeting, they conveyed the President’s support for the right to peaceful protest and emphasized the importance of collaboration to prevent potential unrest.
The President proposed the formation of a joint committee comprising representatives from both the government and the opposition. This committee would be tasked with establishing clear security protocols to safeguard demonstrators and ensure the protest proceeds without violence.
Opposition leaders, including former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and several former Prime Ministers, welcomed the proposal. They confirmed that the protest – initially scheduled for Saturday – will now take place on October 9. Demonstrations are planned across three key areas of the capital: Daynile, Siinay, and Tarabunka.
The revised date comes after the opposition postponed the original protest amid rising tensions in Mogadishu. Fears of confrontation had escalated following warnings from authorities that the planned demonstration would be dispersed for lacking formal authorization.
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