Mogadishu, Somalia – Two government soldiers were killed on Saturday in a shootout between rival units of Somalia’s federal forces in the Dharkenley district of Mogadishu, local sources said.
The clash erupted when a unit tasked with tax collection attempted to enter a residence to enforce payment. However, another group of government soldiers was already stationed at the location, leading to a standoff that quickly escalated into an exchange of gunfire, witnesses told local media.
Residents reported hearing intense gunfire that caused panic among civilians and temporarily shut down nearby roads and businesses.
“We were terrified. Everyone ran for cover, and shops immediately closed,” said a witness who asked not to be named.
Security forces later arrived to defuse the situation, and order was restored. The troops who resisted the tax collection team reportedly fled the scene before reinforcements arrived.
There was no immediate comment from Somali authorities regarding the incident, and the motive behind the dispute remains under investigation. The federal government has not released an official statement.
Such incidents underscore the challenges Somalia faces in maintaining unified command structures within its fragmented security forces.
