Somali Police Display Weapons Seized After Mogadishu Clashes

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somali police on Thursday evening displayed a cache of weapons and military vehicles they said were seized during clashes in Mogadishu between government forces and armed groups linked to opposition politicians.

At a press briefing in the Mogadishu, police officials showcased an assortment of weapons, including machine guns and military vehicles, which they said had been captured during security operations carried out over the past 24 hours.

The clashes, which lasted several hours in parts of Mogadishu, involved government security forces and fighters aligned with former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre and former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, according to government officials. Opposition figures have disputed aspects of the government’s account of the events.

Police said the operation was aimed at maintaining security in the capital and recovering weapons allegedly used during the fighting. Police did not immediately provide independent evidence to support the claims regarding the origin of the seized equipment.

The violence left an unknown number of people dead and injured, although no official casualty figures have been released. Residents reported hearing heavy gunfire and explosions in several districts of the city.

The clashes came amid growing political tensions over Somalia’s electoral process and constitutional reforms, issues that have deepened divisions between the federal government and opposition groups in recent months.

The United Nations, regional body IGAD and several international partners have expressed concern over the recent violence, urging all sides to exercise restraint and resolve their differences through dialogue. Diplomats have warned against a repeat of the political crisis of 2021, when disputes over elections triggered armed confrontations in Mogadishu.

Despite the unrest, security officials said the situation in the capital had largely stabilised by Friday, with additional forces deployed to areas affected by the fighting and security operations continuing across the city.

Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the clashes are ongoing, police officials said.