Former Somalia President Suggests Possible Government–Al-Shabaab Plot Against Opposition

MOGADISHU (SD) — Former Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has accused the federal government of putting pressure on opposition leaders. He called on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to stop using state institutions against political opponents and to work with them to reach an agreement on elections.

In a recent interview, Sheikh Sharif spoke about the political crisis, security in Mogadishu and disagreements over how Somalia should hold its next elections. He said President Hassan Sheikh believes he could govern without limits if the opposition were pushed out of politics.

Sheikh Sharif also claimed that the government and the armed group Al-Shabaab might be working together to target opposition politicians. He said there had been attempts to plan such actions but gave no details or evidence to support the claim. The allegation has not been independently confirmed.

The former president also spoke about an incident on October 10, when, according to him, troops arrived near his home in Mogadishu. He said the move was meant to pressure opposition leaders and that the troops were later asked to leave his compound.

Sheikh Sharif said the situation had become calmer, but he still had concerns about people visiting his home being searched and cameras placed around the compound. He argued that government institutions should protect the public, not be used to serve the interests of political leaders.

He rejected claims that he and other opposition figures were harming security in Mogadishu. Sheikh Sharif said the soldiers protecting him were registered government personnel, not members of a private militia. He stressed that the military should follow the law and should not be used to threaten politicians.

Sheikh Sharif said the political crisis could be solved through talks and a fair election process that all sides trust. He said the opposition was not afraid of elections but wanted clear rules that would give all political groups a fair chance.

He also criticized restrictions on peaceful protests, saying citizens have a constitutional right to express their views and demonstrate peacefully. He urged the government to stop using security forces against the opposition and focus instead on reaching an agreement on elections.

Sheikh Sharif’s comments show how little trust exists between the federal government and opposition leaders. The main disagreement is over how Somalia should hold its next elections and whether the rules will be agreed upon by all sides.

His claim that the government might be working with Al-Shabaab to target opposition figures is serious, but he did not provide evidence to support it. It should therefore be treated as an allegation, not a proven fact. More information would be needed to establish whether there is any truth to the claim.

His account of troops arriving near his home also raises questions about how security forces deal with opposition leaders. The government’s explanation and any independent evidence would help clarify what happened.

The wider concern is that political disputes could become more difficult to resolve if opposition leaders feel they are being threatened or prevented from speaking freely. At the same time, the government must address real security threats and make sure its forces follow the law.

The key issue is whether the government and opposition can agree on fair election rules. Talks could help reduce tensions if both sides are willing to listen and make compromises. Without an agreement, the political crisis could continue, making it harder for the country’s leaders to work together on security and other national problems.