MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s fragile political landscape is tilting toward potential upheaval after senior opposition figures called for direct action to unseat President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accusing his government of widespread land seizures, displacement of civilians, and failure to lay the groundwork for inclusive elections.
Tensions escalated sharply this week as former government leaders and sitting MPs convened in Mogadishu to voice alarm over what they described as systematic repression and disregard for the rule of law. The catalyst for the unrest appears to be the forced eviction of tens of thousands of residents from informal settlements in the capital – many of whom were reportedly uprooted without notice, their homes bulldozed under the guard of security forces.
In a harrowing account delivered at the opposition gathering, an elderly man recounted how his home was razed with him still inside. Neighbours intervened only after they believed he had perished beneath the rubble, underscoring the traumatic human cost of the evictions.
Amid growing public fury, former Somali police chief and influential figure Abdi Hassan Awale Qaybdid signaled the end of peaceful engagement, urging for the removal of President Mohamud by force if necessary. He declared that the time for imprecation had passed, calling instead for immediate and decisive opposition mobilisation.
His remarks were echoed by other prominent figures, including Member of Parliament Mohamed Abukar Ja’far, who criticised what he termed the opposition’s “incompetence and weakness.” He called for the political bloc to rally the citizens of Mogadishu and resist the current administration by all available means.
Another lawmaker issued a stark warning: should the opposition fail to act, disillusioned citizens – and possibly even militant groups – might unite in their frustration. This threat came just a day after Al-Shabaab spokesperson Sheikh Ali Dhere expressed rare alignment with Mogadishu’s displaced residents, vowing retribution against those responsible for the land grabs and asserting that no one would be allowed to settle on the seized territory except its rightful owners.
The convergence of rising opposition anger, mounting grassroots unrest, and tacit sympathies from armed groups has created a volatile mix, placing the nation on a knife’s edge. With only eight months remaining in President Mohamud’s term and no clear electoral roadmap in place, the risk of political paralysis – or outright conflict – is growing by the day.
Government officials, meanwhile, have vowed to suppress any insurrection, pointing to increased military preparations aimed at deterring a possible armed rebellion. Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi recently issued a stern warning that any move by the opposition to take up arms would be crushed without hesitation – referencing a violent 2021 crackdown during the Farmajo administration as a precedent.
In a country where political transitions are historically fraught and institutions remain fragile, the absence of dialogue may leave Somalia with few options other than confrontation. The stakes now lie not only in the hands of political elites but also with the disaffected masses of Mogadishu – and the armed actors watching from the periphery.
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