Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed will address the nation on Tuesday after two key states rejected an extension of his term in office and the prime minister asked the country to prepare for elections, whose delay has led to the worst political violence in Mogadishu for years.
Civilians have fled their homes in the Somali capital following renewed clashes between rival factions in the security forces, which have split in a dispute over the two-year extension to the term of Mohamed, who is better known as Farmaajo.
Tensions have been high since February when Farmaajo’s four-year term ended before fresh elections were held amid disagreements over how to proceed with the polls. The president accused regional leaders over the impasse but his opponents accused him of refusing to leave office.
Bowing to pressure, Somalia s president agrees not to extend presidential term netscape.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from netscape.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Alarm is mounting over a splintering of the country’s security forces into rival factions.
The International Crisis Group (ICG) said in a statement that the “immediate trigger” for Sunday’s violence was the influx of army units loyal to one of the opposition presidential candidates, who had abandoned their posts in south-central Hirshabelle one of the frontlines of the fight against the Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab.
These troops, who have barricaded roads and deployed trucks mounted with machine guns, were now “in control of sections of the capital”, said the ICG.
AFP spoke with one military commander who had entered Mogadishu to fight for the opposition and vowed to remain in the capital until Farmajo had been toppled.
Mogadishu tries to rebuild after years of war
What is the situation in Mogadishu?
Civilians piled televisions and mattresses into rickshaws or loaded belongings onto donkeys, according to the AFP news agency.
On Sunday, groups of armed men opposing the president exchanged fire with security forces.
Government troops have blocked major roads as armed opposition held positions in parts of the capital.
Opposition protesters are supported by armed groups in Mogadishu
What fueled the tensions?
Earlier this month, the lower house of parliament voted to extend President Mohamed s four-year term in office. However, the Senate rejected the move.
The president tried to defend his actions in a recent interview with a local newspaper,
Somalis flee fearing fresh violence as president loses support modernghana.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from modernghana.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.