A few hours before a planned opposition rally, violent shootings broke out between soldiers and militiamen in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. At least two militiamen were killed and numerous others injured, a police officer said earlier this morning. After the nightly confrontation, armored military vehicles sealed off the area in front of the presidential palace.
Opposition groups and clan chiefs who support them wanted to protest there against President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, whom they deny the mandate. Farmajo’s term ended earlier this month, but he will remain in office until a new election date has been agreed.
Background: After the failure of political talks, elections scheduled for the beginning of the month were postponed in the East African country. In the failed talks, in which representatives of various Somali clans took part, the modalities for the indirect presidential election were to be determined and an agreement on the members of the electoral commission reached.
