Source: Africa Publicity
The African Union Commission on Thursday expressed deep concern over reported security developments in Mogadishu, including armed clashes in civilian areas, and called on all parties to exercise restraint to prevent further escalation.
Somali Government forces and opposition fighters have exchanged heavy gunfire in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, as a dispute over delays to elections has escalated.
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term in office ended on May 15, 2026 but was extended by a year. The opposition said this was unconstitutional and called for protests on Thursday.
Gunfire was reported in several neighbourhoods of the capital and persisted throughout the night, according to accounts by residents.
Police said they were conducting a “large-scale security operation” against “heavily armed militias who launched mortar attacks” in some areas.
In a statement issued on June 4, the AU Commission said it was “deeply concerned by reported security developments in Mogadishu, including armed clashes in civilian areas.”
The Commission urged an immediate end to the violence, saying it “calls on all parties to immediately stop the fighting and exercise maximum restraint, protect civilians, and refrain from actions that could further escalate tensions.”
The African Union also appealed to Somali political actors to seek peaceful solutions through existing democratic mechanisms.
“The Commission urges all Somali stakeholders to resolve differences through dialogue and established constitutional processes,” the statement said.
The AU expressed support for ongoing efforts aimed at fostering national unity and political stability in Somalia, encouraging “the continuation of the efforts of H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of #Somalia and all political actors in promoting national dialogue, reconciliation and consensus-building towards political stability.”
The Commission said it would continue monitoring developments closely and reaffirmed the African Union’s commitment to supporting peace and security efforts in Somalia.
“The Commission will continue to closely monitor the situation and assures the readiness of the African Union through its Support and Stabilization Mission (African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia-AUSSOM), to continue to render full support towards the restoration of peace and security in Somalia,” the statement added.
The statement comes amid heightened tensions in the Somali capital, where reports of armed confrontations in civilian areas have raised concerns about security and stability.
