Federal Gov’t, Opposition Trade Accusations Over Police Station Incident in Mogadishu

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The Federal Government of Somalia and opposition leaders traded accusations on Wednesday after heavy fighting broke out around the Warta Nabadda Police Station in Mogadishu, leaving casualties among security personnel and raising fears of renewed political instability.

In a statement, the government condemned what it described as a “despicable act” by opposition politicians who it said attempted to seize the police station by force. Authorities accused politicians seeking power of undermining security and putting civilians and soldiers at risk.

“The government regrets that politicians who aspire to seize power are trying to shed the blood of the people and the armed forces defending the country and fighting terrorism,” the statement read. It added that the government remains committed to safeguarding public safety, property and national security.

But opposition leaders under the Salvation Forum offered a sharply different account, alleging that government forces deliberately targeted them while they were holding a press conference outside the base. Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre said one of his security guards was killed in the exchange of fire and others were injured.

Opposition leaders also claimed that a grenade was fired at vehicles carrying former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Kheyre, and politician Abdirahman Abdishakur. Kheyre accused the government of misusing the Somali army, saying soldiers tasked with fighting Al-Shabaab were deployed to attack political rivals.

“While we were holding a press conference outside the base, we were attacked by a group of soldiers… The shooting did not stop and they brought us down,” he said. He later alleged that their vehicles came under renewed fire near Sinai Square.

The opposition maintains they had gone to the station to protest alleged abuses by government troops in the Sinai neighborhood and denied trying to seize the facility. They accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration of prioritizing crackdowns on political opponents over resolving election and constitutional issues.

Witnesses reported heavy gunfire in the area, with some bullets reportedly hitting the section of the station where prisoners were being held. The number of casualties has not yet been confirmed.