Somali military and opposition-allied militias trade fire

Government troops and militias allied ‌with the opposition exchanged fire overnight and on Thursday morning in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, damaging property and forcing some civilians to flee, residents told Reuters.

Violence broke out ahead of planned protests on Thursday over President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s decision to stay in office after his term ended last month. In March, Parliament approved constitutional changes that could let Mohamud extend his term by a year and delay the election.

Former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who was ⁠in power from 2009 to 2012, said government forces had targeted his home and accused Mohamud’s government of “illegally altering ​the constitution.”

“The government forces encircled and attacked my house. I am never scared of their aggressive attack, I will fight ​back,” he said in a video on his Facebook account posted overnight.

In a post on X, former prime minister Hassan Ali Khaire accused government troops of using heavy weapons including anti-tank weapons and drones in a densely populated area. Reuters was not able to independently ​verify the claims.

Khaire added that the government had directed “a sustained and indiscriminate military assault” aimed at killing him and ​Ahmed.

Somalia’s information and defence ministers did not pick up calls or respond to Reuters messages seeking comment.

Fighting broke out around 5 p.m. on Wednesday and lasted into Thursday morning, as thousands of government troops were sent to Mogadishu’s Howlwadag and Abdiasis districts, where they exchanged gunfire with militias backing opposition leaders, according to residents.

“A mortar shell landed on my neighbour’s house, injuring a mother. A big house near us is also ablaze, mortars and other weapons landed on it,” ​one resident, Ahmed Ismail, told ​Reuters early on Thursday.

“In front ⁠of our house I see a man injured and carried by hand. Civilians keep on fleeing the war, I see them walking with kids in hand and cursing the ​two warring groups,” he said.

At least two armoured vehicles were burnt by opposition-allied militias, ​Mohamud Farah, another ⁠witness, said.

Somalia has endured conflict and clan battles with no strong central government since the fall of autocratic ruler Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. The country has also been grappling with a nearly two-decade-long insurgency led by the al Qaeda-linked al ⁠Shabaab group.

The ​U.S. embassy in Mogadishu described the violence as “reckless”.

“Somali leaders on all sides ​have a responsibility to preserve stability and resolve differences through peaceful means,” it said in a post on X.

The UK also urged restraint and ​dialogue, saying the violence was unacceptable.