Somalia, 8 October 2025 — The Somali government and opposition leaders have agreed on a set of security arrangements aimed at ensuring public safety during an upcoming opposition-led protest that was recently postponed.
The agreement, reached late Wednesday following discussions between government representatives, opposition figures, and members of a mediation committee, outlines measures to regulate weapons and vehicle use in the capital during demonstrations.
According to the terms of the deal, heavy weapons will be prohibited within city limits during the protest to prevent possible violence. Additionally, vehicles associated with opposition members — particularly those known as Abdi-Bileyaasha — a term referring to armed vehicles must be registered with authorities to enhance transparency and monitoring during the event.
The government delegation included senior security officials, among them the Police Commissioner, Brigadier General Asad Osman Abdullah, and the Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), Mahad Mohamed Salad. Opposition leaders Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame and Hassan Ali Khaire represented the opposition side. Mediation Committee members, MP Ugaas Dhagay, Senator Dhagdheer, and MP Saabir Shuuriye, facilitated the talks and helped broker the deal.
The agreement is viewed as a step toward reducing tensions between the government and opposition, as both sides seek to uphold the right to peaceful protest while maintaining security and order in Mogadishu.
Although the planned protest has been postponed, the accord is seen as a framework for future demonstrations and a sign of renewed political engagement. Analysts say the move could help create space for further dialogue and de-escalation in Somalia’s often polarized political environment.
The agreement comes hours after former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed criticized the government for banning heavy weapons and military vehicles, claiming the move would leave opposition leaders vulnerable to attacks by Al-Shabab and other illegal groups, given the state of insecurity in the capital.