Saturday August 23, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi has warned opposition politicians against attempting to mobilize the military or resort to armed conflict, as tensions rise following failed talks with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Fiqi singled out several former leaders, including ex-President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, former Prime Ministers Hassan Ali Khayre and Mohamed Hussein Rooble, MP Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, and former Foreign Minister Ahmed Isse Awad, accusing them of stoking political unrest and plotting actions that could threaten national security.
The warning comes after opposition leaders expressed concerns over the anticipated electoral process, including the management of elections and the role of regional states.
A recent meeting aimed at bridging differences between the government and opposition ended without agreement.
Analysts are divided on the minister’s remarks. Some view them as an intimidation tactic, while others warn of a genuine risk of armed opposition returning to Somali politics — a scenario with a troubling historical precedent.