Friday September 26, 2025
Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, flanked by opposition leaders, addresses reporters in Mogadishu
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali opposition leaders have called on the federal government to secure public safety during a mass demonstration planned for Mogadishu on Saturday, warning against restrictions that could block citizens from reaching the protest sites.
In a letter dated September 25, the Somali Salvation Forum told the Ministry of Internal Security that rallies would begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 1 p.m., with demonstrators expected to gather at Sinay M, Tarabuunka, and Dayniile. The notice, signed by forum secretary-general Dr. Mohamed Aden Koofi, urged authorities to “ensure the safety of the demonstration and facilitate access for citizens on the roads leading to the protest venues.”
The protests are intended to denounce the government’s alleged land seizures and appropriation of public assets in Mogadishu, including civic centers and markets. The Somali Salvation Forum has also promised to
file lawsuits accusing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration of corruption, constitutional violations, and illegal land sales that displaced vulnerable families. Opposition leaders argue these actions have deepened public anger and undermined the rule of law.
The demonstrations come just days after armed guards for opposition politicians clashed with federal forces at Warta Nabada District Police Station. Somali Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre condemned the assault as a
“failed coup attempt,” ordering security agencies to confront anyone “trying to undermine public safety” and bring perpetrators to justice, according to a government statement. The Ministry of Information said responsibility rested with those who “brazenly violated the state’s authority, security, order, and laws.”
Mogadishu Mayor and Banadir Regional Governor Hassan Mohamed Hussein Muungaab has since
banned opposition-organized protests unless cleared by his office, directing police to take “strict legal measures” against unauthorized gatherings. “These opposition figures cannot announce protests. They do not govern any territory,” Muungaab said. His remarks, along with the
deployment of armoured vehicles and heavily armed troops across Mogadishu, set the stage for a possible confrontation as the opposition presses ahead with Saturday’s rally.
The Somali Rescue Forum, which includes former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, ex–Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, and lawmaker Abdirahman Abdishakur, has warned that Somalia faces a “sensitive political and constitutional crisis” as the government prioritizes power consolidation over security operations against al-Shabab.