On Sunday evening, Mogadishu descended into some of its worst violence in years, as rival armed groups clashed across the city during Ramadan. For nearly five hours, mortars, RPGs, and heavy weapons echoed through the streets, forcing terrified families to flee. The fighting sparked by attacks on opposition leaders’ residences quickly escalated into a full-scale confrontation between forces loyal to President Mohammed Abdullahi Farmaajo and opposition-aligned army, police, and clan militias. Villa Somalia itself was struck by mortar fire, and loyalist forces suffered major setbacks, retreating from key districts. While Prime Minister Mohammed Roble announced a late-night truce, the opposition disputes its existence, accusing government forces of unprovoked aggression. Observers fear the violence will intensify without decisive third-party intervention, amid speculation of possible Eritrean support for Farmaajo. Analysts argue that Farmaajo has taken a reckless gamble against a unified and deeply aggrieved clan coalition, one with the capacity for sustained resistance.
Somalia faces a mounting political crisis as President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo attempted a hurried Kinshasa visit to request African Union mediation on the country’s stalled electoral process. Farmaajo portrayed his government as seeking a “Somali-led and Somali-owned” dialogue to restore trust and advance democratic governance, but the effort was curtailed to accommodate Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. Meanwhile, Somalia’s main opposition alliance, the National Salvation Forum, formally addressed the UN Security Council, denouncing Farmaajo’s two-year term extension as illegal and unconstitutional, warning it could unravel the nation’s fragile peace. On the ground in Mogadishu, opposition-aligned security forces have taken positions across nearly half of the city, including Abgaal, Hodan, Dayniile, and Barmuuda districts, heightening tensions. A recent assassination attempt by the new NISA militia “Duufaan,” reportedly trained in Eritrea, underscores the volatile security environment. Opposition leaders, including former NISA commander Abdirahman Tuuryare and General Mohamud Mohamed ‘Koronto,’ are consolidating forces to challenge Farmaajo’s grip, threatening Mogadishu’s stability. International partners face a critical decision: rely on Farmaajo’s diplomatic maneuvers or act decisively to prevent conflict. With tensions rising and armed opposition presence growing, it is clear that hope alone cannot stabilize Somalia’s capital, emphasizing the urgent need for proactive measures.