Pro-Farmajo police officers stop anti-coup rally in capital

Meanwhile, Nur called on the people to remain calm and maintain stability in the capital and avoid any acts that encourage violence that he underlined could not be tolerated.

News Keydmedia Online
29 December 2021

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somali Security Minister Abdullahi Mohamed Nur said an investigation is underway after police officers harmed civilians attending a peaceful anti-Farmajo rally.

I have received complaints that security forces, particularly the police fired shots at protesters in Mogadishu on Wednesday," he said.

In a statement, the minister has assured the public that it would never be acceptable for security officials to commit such acts against the same people they are obliged to protect.

Meanwhile, Nur called on the people to remain calm and maintain stability in the capital and avoid any acts that encourage violence that he underlined could not be tolerated.

This came after opposition figures, including Abdirahman Abdishakur and MP Fiqi, announced that Mogadishu police boss Farhan Qarole and his deputy Kanif stopped a pro-PM protest.

Mogadishu residents say they wanted to express their view on Farmajo's attempted coup in peaceful rallies but police officers loyal to the outgoing president denied the right to protest. 

Farmajo has on Dec 25 promoted Qarole, ex-Al-Shabaab defector to the rank of Brigadier General on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the Somali Police day in Mogadishu.

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