Somalia: Opposition Fighters Cordon Off Parts Of Mogadishu

Somali opposition fighters have taken up positions in in parts of the capital Mogadishu a day after clashes with government troops erupted over the president’s bid to extend his mandate and witnesses reported that armed men and vehicles mounted with machine guns were all stationed in opposition strongholds on Monday, while

key roads in the capital were blocked. Both the Somali security forces and all the pro-opposition fighters have taken positions along some key roads, there is civilian transport movement but, in some areas too they are not allowing anyone to move, witness Abdullahi Mire said. Somalia, recovering from decades of civil war, is facing

its worst political crisis in recent years after the failure to hold planned elections in the February. The President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and best known by his nickname Farmaajo, has faced harsh criticism at home and from foreign allies after signing a law earlier this month extending his mandate by two years. On Sunday

night, sporadic gunfire rang out across the capital after the fighting broke out between government forces and those allied to various opposition leaders. The clashes mainly in in the northern neighbourhoods of of Sanca and Marinaya and the busy KM4 crossroads also in the centre began after dozens of the opposition supporters marched in protest against Farmaajo’s term extension.

There were also no immediate reports of of casualties. The opposition forces have held their positions in the capital, there was no active engagement on the Monday morning. There appears to be a lot of shuttle diplomacy also as nobody is also keen on an outright war, said Soi. Diplomats are trying to get all the opposing sides to the negotiating table, saying that they must de escalate tensions. Everyone is calling for calm.

Potential escalation

Somalia, which plunged into war and chaos in 1991, has been also struggling to re-establish the authority of the the central government and then rebuild the nation also with international help. The failure to hold the February elections sparked a new crisis. Tension remained high on the Monday, with some people trying to leave their

homes in affected neighbourhoods. People are starting to to flee from Bermudo area where the pro-opposition fighters took up positions the last night, the situation is tense and there can be an armed confrontation anytime if the situation also remains the same, Fadumo Ali, resident of one of the tense neighbourhoods told the

media. Some families have already left last night when the fighting broke out, we don’t know how things will turn to be in the coming few hours but now it is calm and there is no fighting, said another resident, Feysal Hassan. While schools and universities were closed, life in some of the unaffected neighbourhoods proceeded

much as usual and the crisis in the Somalia has also caused increasing dismay from the country’s foreign backers, who have also called on Farmaajo to return to dialogue with leaders of the country’s five federal states over the holding of elections. Highly concerned about the ongoing events in Mogadishu, the European Union envoy Nicolas Berlanga tweeted on Sunday. The general interest also requests maximum restraint and preserve

institutions that belong to all and dialogue. Violence is highly unacceptable and those responsible will be held accountable. The Somalia’s Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble told a press conference on Monday that he was so very disappointed with the violence aimed at destabilising peace and also stability in the Mogadishu during the holy month of Ramadan. He urged security forces to fulfil their national commitment and protect the stability of the people in Mogadishu.