Friday, June 5, 2026 (Baidoa Online) -Former Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed remained stranded for hours on a road in Mogadishu on Friday after security forces blocked his convoy in the capital's Shangani district, according to witnesses and local sources, in an incident that has intensified criticism of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's administration.
The convoy, which had departed from the Mirinaayo area, was reportedly accompanied by the Commander of the Somali National Army and the Chairman of the Military Court when it was stopped by security personnel believed to be from the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).
Despite mediation efforts and reports of a prior understanding that would allow the convoy to proceed, security forces refused to lift the blockade, leaving the former president and his entourage stranded as heavily armed personnel maintained positions across the area.
The reason for the security intervention remains unclear, and no official statement had been issued by the Somali authorities at the time of publication. Sources familiar with the situation said efforts to resolve the standoff through negotiations and mediation were ongoing, despite reports of an earlier agreement intended to facilitate the convoy’s passage.
Security was tightened across the area, with additional forces deployed as discussions continued. Sheikh Sharif and members of his convoy remained stranded on the road while mediators worked to secure a resolution. The incident has attracted significant attention due to the involvement of senior political and military figures and comes amid heightened political sensitivities in the Somali capital.
A political analyst described the incident as a troubling signal about the current state of leadership and decision-making within the country.
"The fact that the Commander of the Somali National Army and the Chairman of the Military Court were stopped while escorting a former president, widely recognized for his willingness to compromise and contribute to political stability, reflects a lack of confidence within the country's leadership and suggests an absence of genuine efforts toward political reconciliation," the analyst said.
The analyst further argued that the incident raises questions about the authority of the Army Commander, noting that preventing the movement of an officer who commands approximately 40,000 soldiers could be perceived as undermining his leadership and institutional authority.
The incident has intensified debate over the relationship between Somalia’s political leadership and security institutions, with observers awaiting an official explanation from the government regarding the circumstances surrounding the convoy’s stoppage.
Authorities have yet to explain why the former president’s convoy was stopped, leaving many observers awaiting an official clarification on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
