The Somali Salvation Forum announced on Monday that they will hold protests in Mogadishu on May 16. They accused the Somali Federal Government of blocking the peaceful protests that the opposition had planned to hold in Mogadishu the day before. The protests were intended to show solidarity with residents who had been forcibly evicted from their homes. The Somali Salvation Forum stated that they will continue their peaceful struggle against evictions, demolitions, and government abuse of power. In a statement, the forum clarified that the peaceful demonstrations were in line with the country’s constitution and that security agencies had been officially informed of the designated areas and timings for the protests in order to ensure the safety of participants. The forum emphasized that the government had initially insisted on the protests being held at Eng. Yariisow stadium (formerly known as Ex-Konis), but the opposition complied with the government’s orders in order to avoid political tensions and maintain security. However, the statement also noted that military troops, including police and National Intelligence, had been deployed and were blocking major roads and restricting the movement of vehicles and people. The forum also accused security forces of firing live bullets at peaceful demonstrators in the Deyniile district, resulting in one death and two injuries. The forum expressed deep and sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and called on the government to conduct independent investigations into the incident and hold those responsible accountable. The forum also highlighted the negative impact of the government’s security measures on the lives of ordinary people in Mogadishu, including restrictions on movement, education, trade, and social services. They called on the government to immediately release the youth who were detained during the protests and to stop threatening opposition politicians, journalists, and advocates for the public.
