Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo accuse authorities of targeting political rivals and using state security resources against critics.
Two former Somali presidents have accused the federal government of carrying out a crackdown on opposition figures and political leaders, following a series of security operations in Mogadishu last week.
Speaking at a joint press conference in the capital, former presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo criticised what they described as government-sponsored attacks against politicians opposed to the extension of the government’s term.
The former leaders alleged that security forces had targeted opposition figures and used state resources intended for counter-terrorism operations to conduct raids on the homes of former officials and presidential candidates.
“Weapons and intelligence tools intended for use against the enemy have been used against politicians, including me, and that is unacceptable,” Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said, alleging that state security apparatus had been turned against political opponents rather than being used to address security threats facing the country.
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed rejected reports that weapons had been seized from opposition leaders during the operations. He described such claims as government propaganda and accused the authorities of attempting to justify actions against political opponents.
“The government is carrying out crackdowns and attacks on anyone it considers opposed to its rule,” he said.
Former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo called for direct dialogue to resolve the political dispute, saying he was prepared to meet with the current president alongside fellow former leader Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. Farmaajo said he was personally inviting the outgoing president to a face-to-face meeting between the three leaders in an effort to find what he described as a “Somali solution” to the crisis, without the need for external mediation or foreign intervention.
The Somali government has not immediately responded to the allegations.
The accusations come amid heightened political tensions over governance and the country’s electoral process, with opposition leaders expressing concerns about democratic accountability and political freedoms.
