MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Tensions are building up in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, as the government, under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, wants to move forward with plans to disarm opposition leaders in an attempt to consolidate control over the city, Caasimada Online news website reported on Monday.
This strategic maneuver aims to centralize weapons exclusively within the hands of the presidential administration, raising concerns of a potential power grab ahead of the 2026 elections.
President Mohamud’s bid to retain power indefinitely has sparked fierce opposition from several regional states and prominent political figures, including former leaders. His administration’s controversial changes to the constitution—undertaken unilaterally—are seen as a calculated effort to facilitate an uncontested re-election and secure his political future. Now, Mohamud seeks to disarm his adversaries in Mogadishu, rendering them defenseless and neutralizing any opposition as he tightens his grip on the capital.
The irony of these developments is not lost on observers: During his own tenure in opposition, Mohamud vocally opposed similar disarmament efforts under the government of former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo. At the time, Mohamud defied the disarmament initiative by traversing the city streets, escorted by heavily armed vehicles, in a show of defiance against the government’s plan to disarm opposition factions.
The president’s current actions, which are also tainted by allegations of increasing public land auctions and militia recruitment from his own sub-clan, have ignited significant resistance. Among the most vocal critics is former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who has condemned Mohamud’s disarmament agenda as a path toward political repression. Ahmed warned that if the disarmament plans proceed, it would lead to the silencing and imprisonment of opposition figures. In a pointed remark, he quipped that the government should not delay, but instead “quickly proceed” with their plans, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
In response to the looming threat, former President Ahmed has initiated behind-the-scenes negotiations with key stakeholders—politicians, influential businessmen, and military officers who control large stocks of weapons in the capital. Their goal is to rally support against Mohamud’s disarmament efforts and to safeguard their ability to resist the president’s increasing consolidation of power ahead of the critical 2026 presidential vote.
