MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – A Somali opposition lawmaker has accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of mobilising a force of 3,500 soldiers near the capital, Mogadishu, in what he claims is a bid to suppress opposition ahead of the end of the president’s term.
Speaking on Tuesday, MP Mohamed Ali Omar Caananuug said he had received credible intelligence that the troops – originally trained and armed for counter-terrorism operations against the Al-Shabaab militant group – are instead being repurposed to crack down on political dissent.
Caananuug, a vocal critic of the president, warned that the force is being quietly assembled with the intention of thwarting opposition protests and entrenching President Mohamud in power beyond his current term, which is set to expire in seven months. He did not specify the location of the alleged military build-up.
The claims come amid growing concerns over political uncertainty in Somalia. With time running out on the president’s mandate, there has been little visible progress towards organising either parliamentary or presidential elections. A long-standing dispute continues over the type of electoral model to be used, exacerbated by President Mohamud’s controversial move to amend the constitution and electoral laws.
The president has argued in favour of holding the country’s first direct election – a move welcomed by some as a democratic milestone but rejected by others who view it as an unrealistic and unilateral decision that lacks consensus.
Caananuug urged opposition parties, civil society groups, and Somalia’s international partners to remain vigilant. He called on foreign governments and institutions supplying military aid to Somalia to ensure their support is not diverted to suppress legitimate political activity.
International donors have not yet responded to the MP’s allegations, which echo earlier reports in Somali media suggesting that the government was arming fighters from the president’s clan to disarm opposition groups and stifle public demonstrations.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s office has not issued a response to the latest claims.
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