MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Tensions in Somalia’s capital escalated dangerously on Wednesday when government security forces opened fire on opposition leaders, including former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, in an incident that has deepened public concern over the country’s political stability.
The confrontation erupted outside Wardhigley Police Station, where the opposition leaders had gone to demand the release of an elderly man who appeared in a widely circulated video being savagely beaten by members of the security forces and an alleged official of Hormuud Telecommunications company.
According to eyewitnesses, heavily armed government forces, including personnel from the military, police, and the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), opened fire on the opposition convoy shortly after their arrival at the station. Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire confirmed that one of his bodyguards was killed and several others wounded after government troops fired a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) at his vehicle, which was completely destroyed.
Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who was also present, could be heard ordering his security not to return fire. His bulletproof vehicle was later seen riddled with bullet holes, some apparently caused by anti-aircraft weapons mounted on government pickup trucks.
The opposition figures were attempting to visit the elderly man who had spoken at a recent opposition event, recounting how he narrowly escaped death during a government-led demolition campaign in his neighborhood. According to his testimony, his home was lifted with a tractor while he was still inside, only to be dropped after neighbors intervened.
The beating of the elderly man by security forces and a civilian believed to be a Hormuud official sparked outrage on social media and among Mogadishu residents. Prior to the arrival of the opposition leaders, Banadir regional police commander Moalim Mahdi held a press conference at the station. Mahdi condemned the violence, presenting the officers allegedly involved and stating that their actions did not reflect the values of the national police.
However, critics noted that the Hormuud official seen participating in the assault was not among those detained. Allegations of preferential treatment and bribery emerged, with many accusing the police of shielding the businessman to protect corporate interests closely tied to the government.
Additional reports emerged from Mogadishu’s Siinaay neighborhood – an area predominantly settled by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s sub-clan – where security forces allegedly carried out further acts of brutality. Images circulating online show a severely injured elderly woman with broken arms, along with other civilians hospitalized after beatings by police.
In response to the escalating crisis, opposition leaders accused the government of orchestrating a campaign of violence and illegal land seizures under the guise of urban development. They alleged that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration is forcibly evicting low-income residents – many of whom possess legal land titles – to resell their land to wealthy allies and business elites.
“The time for words has passed,” opposition official Abdi Hassan Awale Qaybdid said this week. “The President is preying on the poor, and action must now be taken.”
Later on Wednesday, the opposition called for a mass protest in Mogadishu on Saturday to denounce the rising abuses, forced evictions, and violent suppression of dissent. It remains unclear how the government will respond to the demonstration or whether it will be permitted to proceed.
Meanwhile, the Somali Police Force issued a statement blaming the opposition leaders for the violence, citing the presence of what they described as an excessive and illegal security detail. The force warned that no unauthorized weapons would be tolerated in Mogadishu, signaling possible future efforts to disarm opposition-aligned militias – a move likely to exacerbate already fragile relations.
This week’s events mark a troubling chapter in Somalia’s ongoing struggle to balance security, governance, and the rule of law. As calls grow louder for accountability and justice, many residents of the capital are left wondering whether the nation is inching toward a broader political confrontation.
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