By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter
Somalia, 3 june 2026 – Banadir Deputy Governor for Security and Politics Mohamed Ahmed Diriye ‘Yabooh’ said the planned opposition protest in Mogadishu can only be held at government-designated locations amid rising tensions.
Yabooh made the remarks at a ceremony to break ground for the reconstruction of the Hamar Jajab district administration headquarters on Wednesday.
He said the government has not rejected the protest planned for Thursday, but had approved it only at specific designated sites.
“The government has allowed the protest. It has not rejected it. The government has approved the protest,” Yabooh said.
“The government must decide where the protests can be held. Three places have been designated where protests can be held,” he added.
Yabooh did not name the three locations that had been designated for the demonstration.
However, for a previous opposition protest, the government designated Eng. Yariisow Stadium, also known as Koonis.
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Yabooh said opposition leaders should go to the approved locations and address their supporters there.
He also warned against demonstrations involving armed people, saying that could amount to disorder.
Yabooh urged former national leaders not to undo security gains, citing improvements in the capital.
“Our former leaders deserve respect and honour, but do not take this society and this city backwards,” he said.
He added that the government was not opposed to dialogue, urging the opposition to pursue talks.
Yabooh’s remarks came after former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed rejected restrictions limiting the protest to a single site designated by security authorities.
Mogadishu-based opposition group Somali Salvation Forum had announced that the protest would take place in Mogadishu on June 4. The group said the demonstration would be peaceful.