MOGADISHU — Somalia’s federal government said on Friday it had concluded a 48-hour security operation targeting armed groups it accused of attempting to create instability in the capital, Mogadishu, amid heightened political tensions between authorities and opposition leaders.
In a statement, the Ministry of Information said security forces had taken control of locations previously occupied by the armed groups, which it alleged had carried out attacks against police officers and civilians.
The government accused the groups of being linked to prominent opposition figures, including former prime minister Hassan Ali Khaire and former president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. It did not provide evidence to support the allegations.
According to the statement, security forces seized weapons and vehicles belonging to the groups during the operation. Authorities said security and judicial institutions had launched formal investigations into the incidents.
The government reiterated that it would not tolerate any armed activity outside the framework of the law, warning that anyone involved in actions deemed a threat to national security would face legal consequences.
The opposition leaders named in the statement had not immediately responded to the accusations.
Opposition figures have previously rejected similar allegations, saying the armed personnel accompanying them were part of their official security details. They have also accused the government of responsibility for the tensions and confrontations that recently unfolded in Mogadishu.
The statement comes after days of military deployments and growing political friction in the Somali capital, where disputes over the country’s electoral process and political future have deepened divisions between the government and sections of the opposition.
