04/06/2026
Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed Vows to Fight Back After Attack on Residence
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed issued a defiant warning on Wednesday after armed clashes erupted around his residence in Mogadishu amid escalating political tensions.
Speaking to journalists while gunfire and explosions were reportedly heard in the surrounding area, Sharif declared that he would not back down in the face of what he described as aggression against opposition leaders.
“If you fire a bullet at me, even if I have only one bullet left, I will fire it back at you. I am not afraid, and I will fight. I will fight in a way that people will remember,” Sharif said during a press briefing.
Sources close to the former president said his residence came under attack from government forces, prompting the rapid arrival of reinforcements. Witnesses reported that approximately 25 military vehicles carrying armed personnel arrived at the scene under the command of General Saney Abdulle, a senior officer in the Somali National Army.
The confrontation comes amid a deepening political crisis that has heightened fears of wider conflict in the capital.
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed remains one of Somalia’s most influential political figures. He is widely remembered for leading the Islamic Courts movement that challenged warlord rule, opposing the Ethiopian military intervention, and launching major operations against Al-Shabaab during his presidency that helped push the militant group out of large parts of Mogadishu.
Political analysts warn that the latest developments mark a dangerous escalation and have renewed calls for dialogue to prevent further instability in Somalia.
By Dahir Alasow
Waagacusub Media Network
[email protected]
Mogadishu, Somalia
