No Anti-Govt Protests Allowed, Somali Defense Minister Warns
Amid growing tension between the Somali government and leading opposition figures, the Minister of Defense, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, has warned the government won't tolerate protests. The minister accused members of the opposition of receiving external funding to organize protests, which he said posed a security risk.
He said President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has met with opposition leaders five times and "agreed to most of their demands", saying there was no justification for street protests.
The minister's statement comes after the government and opposition leaders reportedly agreed to postpone the planned demonstrations in Mogadishu in light of heightened security concerns. Other opposition members have, however, vowed to proceed with peaceful protests in the coming days.
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Somalia:
'No Anti-Govt Protests Allowed in Mogadishu' - Somali Defence Minister Warns Opposition
Shabelle, 15 October 2025
Somalia's Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi issued a stern warning to opposition politicians on Tuesday, declaring that public demonstrations in the capital will not be permitted… Read more »
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Somalia:
Somali Opposition Announces Postponement of Major Protest Amid Security Concerns
Shabelle, 9 October 2025
Prominent Somali opposition figure Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame on Thursday announced the postponement of a major protest that had been scheduled to take place in the capital,… Read more »
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Somalia:
Hirshabelle President Slams Armed Opposition, Warns Against 'Politics Through the Gun'
Radio Dalsan, 6 October 2025
Jowhar, Somalia -- The President of Hirshabelle State, Ali Gudlawe Hussein, has launched a sharp verbal attack on opposition figures within the regional administration, accusing… Read more »
InFocus
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The talks brought together prominent opposition figures in the capital, Mogadishu. Organisers have said the consultations aim to establish a more unified front as disagreements with the federal government over proposed constitutional amendments deepen.
Wednesday's meeting was characterised as the launch of a series of planned opposition talks.
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Somalia's new electoral rules are creating unforeseen fissures in the loose alliance between some federal state presidents and opposition groups.
The rules, under a new framework for electing members of the Lower House, effectively took away the influence of the traditional clan elders, who initially used to select delegates to vote for MPs. As it was in 2016, each clan has registered elders who select delegates.
A caucus of opposition presidential aspirants known
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Mogadishu in 2015 (file photo).
