Somali Opposition and Government Agree to Postpone Planned Mogadishu Protest Amid Security Concerns

 Somali Opposition and Government Agree to Postpone Planned Mogadishu Protest Amid Security Concerns

The Somali Salvation Forum, a coalition of opposition groups, and the federal government have once again agreed to postpone a planned demonstration in Mogadishu due to ongoing security concerns following last week’s attack on the Godka Jilacow detention center.

According to opposition leader Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, who heads the Wadajir Party, the decision was reached after a joint meeting that brought together members of the Somali Salvation Forum, the government’s mediation committee, and top security officials, including police and intelligence commanders.

“We agreed to form a joint security and coordination mechanism to ensure protesters can demonstrate safely and without interference,” Abdishakur stated. “The government is expected to uphold citizens’ right to protest.”

The protest, initially scheduled for late September, was first delayed following government objections. After mediation by community elders, a new date of October 9 was agreed upon — only for it to be postponed again amid renewed security threats.

Opposition groups say the goal of the demonstration is to condemn the displacement of civilians from government-owned land and to challenge the government’s political and electoral agenda.

The repeated postponement highlights the tense political climate in Somalia, where balancing public freedoms with national security remains a constant challenge. Both sides, however, have expressed commitment to ensuring that any future demonstrations take place peacefully and within the framework of the law.