Thursday, June 11, 2026 (Baidoa Online) -A large number of armed men reportedly belonging to a clan from the Middle Shabelle region have blocked the main coastal highway leading out of Mogadishu, according to local sources.
The route serves as a critical transport and trade corridor linking the Somali capital with parts of the Galgaduud and Hiiraan regions. The blockade is expected to disrupt the movement of commercial goods, public transport and civilian travel along the highway.
The motive behind the road closure was not immediately clear. However, some local sources say the armed men are acting in support of opposition leaders in Mogadishu, particularly former Security Minister Abdullahi Mohamed Nor. In recent days, there have also been reports of clan mobilization in parts of the Middle Shabelle region amid growing tensions with the federal government.
These claims have not been independently verified, and neither the federal authorities nor representatives of the opposition have publicly commented on the reported highway blockade.
The development comes amid heightened political and security tensions in and around Mogadishu, with concerns that disruptions along major transport routes could affect trade, transportation and mobility across central Somalia.