Mogadishu gunfire sparks political storm, Farmaajo leads opposition charge By Agencies June 04, 2026 07:29 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Somalia President Hassan Sheikh (left) and his predecessor Mohammed …
… President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud plunged Somalia into a fresh political crisis in mid-May after announcing a one-year extension of his term, which had been due to expire on May 15. …
… President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud plunged Somalia into a fresh political crisis in mid-May after announcing a one-year extension of his term, which had been due to expire on May 15. …
Somalia declares 'transition period' as presidential mandate ends without deal By AFP May 16, 2026 06:17 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud addresses the 80th United N …
… Among those who have previously toured the facility are President William Ruto, his Somalia counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, as well as veteran opposition leader, the late Raila Odinga. …
… Audio By Vocalize Somalia’s opposition leaders have called for mass protests in Mogadishu on Sunday over alleged forced evictions and demolitions targeting poor residents in the capital, escalating political tensions just days before the end of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s t …
… President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's tenure expires on May 15 under the 2012 Provisional Constitution, and press freedom groups say the contested legitimacy crisis is driving security forces to clamp down on journalists covering political developments. …
Heavy gunfire erupted in Mogadishu on Thursday as Somalia faced a fresh political crisis, with former president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo attacking President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for using force to suppress dissent and for extending his tenure by one year after his term expired on May 15, a move opposition leaders say undermines constitutional and democratic processes.
Heavy gunfire erupted in Mogadishu on Thursday as Somalia faced a fresh political crisis, with former president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo attacking President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for using force to suppress dissent and for extending his tenure by one year after his term expired on May 15, a move opposition leaders say undermines constitutional and democratic processes.
Heavy gunfire and clashes erupted in Somalia's capital overnight between rival political factions as opposition leaders gathered for planned protests against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's announced one-year extension of his term. Armed forces were deployed on the streets as residents reported sporadic fighting continuing into Thursday morning.
Heavy gunfire and fighting erupted overnight in Mogadishu after clashes broke out between rival political factions ahead of planned demonstrations against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's one-year term extension announced in mid-May. Armed forces deployed on streets as police conducted a "large-scale security operation" against what they described as "heavily armed militias."
Somalia's government declared the country in a "transition period" after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term ended Friday without an agreement with the opposition on holding elections. Talks between government and opposition, facilitated by British and U.S. diplomats, failed to reach a compromise.
The Norwegian Ambassador to Kenya and Somalia visited BBS Mall in Eastleigh and lauded its role in entrepreneurship, job creation, and urban transformation, describing it as the largest shopping mall in East and Central Africa and praising its owner's vision and social responsibility.
An opinion piece cautions against reopening the Kenya-Somalia border after years of closure due to insecurity, citing 72 terror-related attacks in 2025 along the border counties that killed 50 people, despite the border being closed. The author acknowledges President William Ruto's planned formal reopening announcement during Madaraka Day celebrations in Wajir on June 1, 2026, citing trade benefits, but argues that security concerns must be weighed against economic gains.
Somalia's opposition leaders, including former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, have called for mass protests in Mogadishu on Sunday over alleged forced evictions and demolitions of informal settlements that have displaced vulnerable residents over the past two years, escalating tensions days before President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term ends.
Since taking office in late 2020, Hirshabelle State President Ali Guudlaawe Hussein has focused on practical development projects, including school construction across both regions and refurbishment of government offices in Jowhar.
Journalists in Somalia continue to face killings, arbitrary arrests, and intimidation by security forces, with rights groups warning conditions will worsen as elections approach. The Somali Journalists Syndicate has recorded at least 18 violations against journalists since January 2026, including arbitrary arrests, threats, torture, and equipment confiscation.
With two weeks before his four-year mandate expires, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is courting Somalia's traditional clan leaders to support universal suffrage and abandon the indirect clan-based electoral system in place since 2004. Opposition factions and two Federal Member States oppose the shift, citing security concerns and questioning the legality of the president's tenure.