At least one person was killed and another injured after Somali security forces opened fire on opposition supporters during a protest in Mogadishu on Sunday, according to witnesses and opposition leaders, heightening political tensions ahead of upcoming elections. The protest, organised under the slogan “Dareen Hiil Shacab,” meaning Solidarity with the People, was staged to condemn recent government-led evictions that have reportedly displaced thousands of residents across the capital. Opposition groups said authorities imposed strict restrictions before the demonstrations, limiting gatherings to a single stadium, blocking major roads, and surrounding the homes of prominent opposition figures.
Despite the security measures, dozens of demonstrators gathered in Mogadishu’s Deyniile district, where witnesses said troops fired live rounds to disperse the crowd. Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheire condemned the incident, describing it as a “brutal attack” on peaceful protesters. Witnesses recounted scenes of panic as people fled the area during the gunfire. One resident, Alinur Ahmed, said he saw a person lying dead near the roadside and another seriously injured. Another witness, Mohamed Siyad, said several people may have been hit by bullets, though casualty figures could not be independently confirmed. The Somali government denied accusations of excessive force and instead accused opposition figures of attempting to destabilize the capital.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud defended the actions of security forces, saying Somalia’s constitution protects peaceful protests but does not permit disorder or armed gatherings. The unrest comes at a politically sensitive time, with President Mohamud’s term set to expire within days and elections expected in June. Somalia continues to face major security challenges as government forces battle the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab, which has carried out an insurgency for nearly two decades. Analysts say the latest violence highlights growing political uncertainty and the fragile security situation in Somalia as the country prepares for a critical electoral period.
