By Goth Mohamed Goth
MOGADISHU — Wednesday, June 3, 2026 — Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed narrowly survived an armed assault on his Mogadishu residence just one hour after publicly accusing the federal government of placing his home under siege, witnesses and opposition officials said. The attack was repelled by his personal security detail, but it has dramatically escalated tensions ahead of planned opposition protests.
The former president had earlier held a press conference in which he accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of deploying national forces for political repression. Sharif alleged that large numbers of government troops had been positioned around his home and in surrounding neighborhoods to confine him and block his supporters from mobilizing for upcoming demonstrations.
“The national forces were created to defend the country and fight external enemies, not to be used for political pressure against Somali citizens,” Sharif told reporters. He insisted that the right to peaceful protest is constitutionally guaranteed and that no authority has the legal power to ban such gatherings.
He also claimed that his supporters had been prevented from visiting him, moving freely through the capital, or accessing his residence—actions he described as clear violations of constitutional freedoms.
Assault on the residence
Approximately one hour after the press conference concluded, heavily armed government security forces allegedly launched a direct assault on Sharif’s fortified compound in the capital. According to multiple sources close to the former president and residents of the neighborhood, the attacking force exchanged heavy gunfire with Sharif’s personal guards for several minutes.
The guards successfully repelled the assault, forcing the attackers to withdraw. It remains unclear whether there were casualties on either side, though witnesses reported seeing armed men fleeing the scene. Neither the Somali government nor its military spokespersons have issued an immediate statement regarding the incident.
The attack marks a severe escalation in the ongoing political standoff between the government and opposition figures. Sharif’s security team described the operation as an “attempted forced entry” and said the former president was unharmed.
Wider tensions in Mogadishu
The assault on Sharif’s home comes amid broader unrest in Mogadishu. Heavy gunfire has been heard in several opposition-held neighborhoods, and unidentified grenade attacks have caused damage to civilian properties and left multiple people injured, according to local medics.
Opposition leaders have accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of ordering federal forces to place opposition figures under effective house arrest in order to prevent a major protest planned for tomorrow. The demonstration is expected to be significantly larger than previous opposition rallies, which have drawn thousands into the streets.
Residents in opposition strongholds report increased military checkpoints and patrols, as well as the deployment of armored vehicles near the homes of several prominent political rivals of the president.
Political fallout
The events have drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups and legal experts, who warn that using the national military against political opponents risks plunging the country back into the kind of internal conflict that has plagued Somalia for decades.
International partners, including the African Union and the United Nations, have yet to issue formal statements but are closely monitoring the situation, according to diplomatic sources in Mogadishu.
As night fell over the capital, the atmosphere remained tense, with many residents fearing further violence. Opposition leaders have vowed to proceed with the planned protest, calling on their supporters to remain peaceful but defiant.
