The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has called for the protection of the civilian population and essential infrastructure in Somalia, while urging the warring parties to return to the negotiating table so as not to jeopardize the "progress" achieved so far in talks with the opposition.
His spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said in a statement that "The Secretary-General is alarmed by reports of violence in Mogadishu. He stresses the urgent need for all stakeholders to resume talks to determine a way forward that avoids reversing the progress made to date in Somalia and ensures the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure."
In the same note, Guterres sends a direct message to all Somali actors "to exercise maximum restraint, refrain from any action that could incite further violence, and resolve political differences through dialogue."
The UN's top official also recalled that the United Nations Transition Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) had already warned of the "risk of repeating the crisis that arose in 2021 due to differences regarding the electoral roadmap." "Warnings that, unfortunately, obviously, are not being heeded," he lamented.
In this context, "The United Nations Mission urges all Somali leaders to prioritize the national interest and resume talks that ended on May 15. Somalia's international partners are ready to facilitate this dialogue."
The latest armed clashes began late Wednesday, when the police reported an attack by armed men on a checkpoint in the Houluadag district. According to the authorities, the assailants used heavy weaponry and caused damage to civilian homes and businesses, later pointing to militias allegedly linked to former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire.
Khaire, who served as prime minister between 2017 and 2020, has denounced in response "a violent attack" against a meeting he was holding in the area with "more than 70 traditional leaders" and several parliamentarians, opposition members, and activists. He also stressed that Mohamud, "whose presidential mandate constitutionally ended on May 15, 2026," "bears full responsibility" for what happened.
The current Somali president decided to extend his term until May 15, 2027, after negotiations between the Executive and the opposition failed to address the political crisis. This deadlock occurs amid strong tensions over constitutional amendments aimed at implementing direct elections with universal suffrage, a process that has generated clashes with the authorities of the semi-autonomous regions of Puntland and Jubaland.