UN chief alarmed by violence in Somalia's Mogadishu

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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is alarmed about the reports of violence in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, his spokesperson said Thursday.

"The Secretary General calls on all parties to exercise utmost restraint, refrain from any actions that could incite further violence, and resolve political differences through dialogue," spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a note to correspondents.

Dujarric added that the UN chief underscores the urgent need for all stakeholders to resume talks to identify a way forward to avoid reversing the progress seen in Somalia to date, and to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.

According to the note, the UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia and international partners have repeatedly warned, in their statements and stakeholder engagements, of the risk of repeating the crisis that arose in 2021 over differences regarding the electoral roadmap.

The warnings "were unfortunately, obviously ... not heeded," it said.

The UN mission urged all Somali leaders to prioritize the national interest and resume the talks that ended on May 15, said the note, adding that Somalia's international partners stand ready to facilitate such a dialogue.

Supporters of opposition political figures and security forces continued to clash in Mogadishu on Thursday after fighting broke out Wednesday evening ahead of a planned anti-government demonstration, according to media reports.