MOGADISHU (KAAB TV) – On Sunday, the streets of Mogadishu witnessed the surge of angry protestors from the ethnic Jareer Weyne minority group, rallying for the immediate release of detained army general Sheegow Ahmed, a figure celebrated within their community.
General Sheegow, known for his valiant efforts against Al-Shabaab in the past, became the target of an operation conducted by police and national intelligence personnel on Friday night. The mission led to an armed gunfight at General Sheegow’s residence in the Kaawo Godey neighborhood in Mogadishu’s Dharkenley district.
Protesters demanding freedom of army General Sheegow Ahmed from the Somali Bantu clan took to the streets in the capital, #Mogadishu on Sunday.
Protesters went closer to the @TheVillaSomalia checkpoint near Sayidka junction when they were shot with live bullets forcing them to… pic.twitter.com/P8fbTPKTwG
— Kaab Somali TV (@KaabTV) August 20, 2023
The gun fight followed by mortar shelling resulted in at least nine fatalities and over seven individuals sustaining injuries. The exchange of gunfire persisted throughout Saturday morning, August 19.
The protestors, predominantly comprised of young men and women from the Jareer Weyne community, embarked on a march along Maka al-Mukarama street to the proximity of the presidential palace, where presidential guards responded with live ammunition. In the midst of the chaos, businesses shuttered, and the demonstrators sought refuge.
While the impact of the live bullets on the protestors remains unclear, tensions remain high.
The attack on General Sheegow’s house sparked protests and condemnation across several cities.
Members of the Jareer Weyne community voiced their strong dissent against the raid and subsequent detention of General Sheegow. Urging for his immediate release, they implored Mogadishu government authorities to halt what they perceive as “ethnic cleansing targeting minority clans in the city”.
“We interpret this attack as a direct assault with ethnic undertones, and we demand answers from the government regarding its origins and authorization,” asserted Mr. Siidow, a young politician.
Dahabo Susow, a lawmaker in the Lower House of the Federal Parliament, attributed the attack on General Sheegow’s residence to army officers in Mogadishu harboring clan-based animosity.
She highlighted that those affected by the raid, both killed and detained, included members of the civilian population within the neighborhood.
“They are all part of the same community, comprising students, teachers, and casual laborers. Many of them are currently in detention,” she stated during a media address outside the parliament on Saturday.
Religious and clan elders equally condemned the events of Friday night’s attack, collectively voicing their disapproval.