Former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has accused the federal government of blocking roads to his residence and restricting opposition leaders ahead of planned anti-government protests in the capital.
In statements released Sunday via X, Sheikh Sharif, who chairs the opposition Somali Future Council, said security forces had sealed off access to his home in northern Mogadishu and prevented lawmakers from reaching him.
He accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration of trying to suppress the demonstrations. The protests focus on alleged forced evictions, home demolitions, and land grabs disproportionately affecting poor and displaced communities in Mogadishu.
Sheikh Sharif called the evictions unlawful.
“The right to housing and the freedom to demonstrate are constitutional rights, not privileges that can be curtailed by the state,” he said.
He added: “We are not waging war, we are not carrying guns. We are only carrying our guards.”
Rising Tensions
Sheikh Sharif warned authorities against using force. “You cannot answer citizens’ grievances with guns and roadblocks. The people are demanding justice, not confrontation. We will defend their constitutional right to speak peacefully,” he stated.
He cautioned that violence could further destabilize Somalia’s fragile politics amid stalled elections. Opposition groups initially planned multiple protest sites but shifted toward a government-designated location such as Koonis Stadium after heavy security deployments, including roadblocks and armored vehicles across the city.
The government defended the measures as necessary to maintain order and accused opposition leaders of rejecting designated protest areas. Officials dismissed Sheikh Sharif’s remarks as inflammatory.
Broader Context
The demonstrations come as Somalia faces heightened political tensions over delayed elections and governance issues. The UN has noted that urban evictions have displaced over 142,000 people since early 2025.
On Sunday, scattered protests were reported in areas like Daynile, with unconfirmed reports of at least one civilian casualty. The situation remains tense with a heavy security presence in the capital.
This standoff highlights deep divisions over land disputes, governance, and electoral timelines in Somali politics.
