Somalia: Gun battles erupt in Mogadishu after raid on ex-PM’s home

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Heavy gun battles erupted in Somalia’s capital on Wednesday after federal government forces launched an assault on the residence of prominent opposition figure and former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, sparking fears of a descent into protracted civil conflict.

The afternoon clashes in Mogadishu’s central Howlwadag district followed a tense 24-hour military buildup by both administration forces and powerful clan militias aligned with the political opposition. The flare-up comes on the eve of mass anti-government demonstrations scheduled for Thursday, which opposition leaders vow to push ahead with despite the outbreak of hostilities.

The violence represents the most severe domestic political crisis facing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration, mirroring the volatile street battles of 2021 that previously pushed the Horn of Africa nation to the brink of fragmentation.

Security sources said the government raid was triggered by the circulation of social media images showing heavily armed, masked opposition fighters patrolling strategic arteries in the capital earlier in the day. The state security apparatus viewed the deployment as an unacceptable provocation and an attempt to establish parallel control over municipal sectors.