Supporters of Somalia`s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and those opposed to the extension of his four-year term clashed on Sunday on the streets of the capital, residents said.

The president signed a law in mid-April extending his mandate for two years, stoking opposition inside Somalia and putting him on a collision course with Western and other donors opposed to the move.

&nbsp;Watch |&nbsp;

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Somalia, which plunged into war and chaos in 1991, has been struggling to re-establish the authority of central government and rebuild the nation, with international help. The failure to hold elections that were due in February sparked a new crisis.

"There is gunfire between pro-opposition military and government forces at Fagah Junction," Halima Osman, a resident of Fagah in Mogadishu, said after Reuters witnesses heard gunshots erupt in capital.

A Wion witness saw four military vehicles positioned in one place in the Fagah area.

Somalia`s lower house of parliament passed legislation to extend Mohamed`s tenure by up to two years, although the decision was rejected by the upper chamber.

Supporters of Somalia`s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and those opposed to the extension of his four-year term clashed on Sunday on the streets of the capital, residents said.

Supporters of Somalia`s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and those opposed to the extension of his four-year term clashed on Sunday on the streets of the capital, residents said. The president signed a law in mid-April extending his mandate for two years, stoking opposition inside Somalia and putting him on a collision course with Western and other donors opposed to the move. Watch | Somalia, which plunged into war and chaos in 1991, has been struggling to re-establish the authority of central government and rebuild the nation, with international help. The failure to hold elections that were due in February sparked a new crisis. "There is gunfire between pro-opposition military and government forces at Fagah Junction," Halima Osman, a resident of Fagah in Mogadishu, said after Reuters witnesses heard gunshots erupt in capital. A Wion witness saw four military vehicles positioned in one place in the Fagah area. Somalia`s lower house of parliament passed legislation to extend Mohamed`s tenure by up to two years, although the decision was rejected by the upper chamber.

Somali president's backers in gun clash with opponents, residents say

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has picked political newcomer Mohamed Hussein Roble as prime minister, his office said on Friday, cementing power around the presidency ahead of elections due next year.

Roble studied civil engineering and previously worked for the International Labour Organisation, a United Nations agency. He replaces Hassan Ali Khaire, who was sacked in July after a power struggle over whether to delay a national election due next year.

Somalia, a Horn of Africa nation that has been riven by civil war since 1991, is coming to a crossroads.

An African Union peacekeeping force set up in 2017 has clawed back control of much of the country from Islamist insurgents, giving space for fragile political institutions to emerge. Young diaspora Somalis are coming home and construction in the capital is booming.

But corruption is endemic, the peacekeepers have begun reducing their presence, and the Islamist al-Shabaab insurgency still mounts deadly attacks on a near-daily basis, even within the capital.

Relations have also been rocky between the federal government and regional states as they quarrel over power and resources.

Mohamed - usually referred to by his nickname of "Farmaajo" - is likely to run for a second term as president when polls are held, competing against at least two other former presidents.

Somalia`s international backers had hoped to hold the first one-person, one-vote election since the war began, but it is unclear whether that will be possible.

Previous national elections have consisted of clan delegates choosing members of parliament, who in turn chose a national leader.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has picked political newcomer Mohamed Hussein Roble as prime minister, his office said on Friday, cementing power around the presidency ahead of elections due next year.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has picked political newcomer Mohamed Hussein Roble as prime minister, his office said on Friday, cementing power around the presidency ahead of elections due next year. Roble studied civil engineering and previously worked for the International Labour Organisation, a United Nations agency. He replaces Hassan Ali Khaire, who was sacked in July after a power struggle over whether to delay a national election due next year. Somalia, a Horn of Africa nation that has been riven by civil war since 1991, is coming to a crossroads. An African Union peacekeeping force set up in 2017 has clawed back control of much of the country from Islamist insurgents, giving space for fragile political institutions to emerge. Young diaspora Somalis are coming home and construction in the capital is booming. But corruption is endemic, the peacekeepers have begun reducing their presence, and the Islamist al-Shabaab insurgency still mounts deadly attacks on a near-daily basis, even within the capital. Relations have also been rocky between the federal government and regional states as they quarrel over power and resources. Mohamed - usually referred to by his nickname of "Farmaajo" - is likely to run for a second term as president when polls are held, competing against at least two other former presidents. Somalia`s international backers had hoped to hold the first one-person, one-vote election since the war began, but it is unclear whether that will be possible. Previous national elections have consisted of clan delegates choosing members of parliament, who in turn chose a national leader.

Somali president names newcomer Roble premier as elections loom

Ethiopia said on Saturday it had arrested an unspecified number of Islamist militant members of the Somali group al Shabaab and Islamic State who were planning to carry out attacks in the country on various targets including hotels.

Some of those arrested were carrying out intelligence work including photographing potential targets, the National Intelligence Security Services (NISS) said in a statement read out on state-affiliated broadcaster Fana.

"The group was preparing to attack hotels, religious festivities gathering places and public areas in Addis Ababa," NISS said.

Ethiopian intelligence coordinated with neighbouring Djibouti to detain the suspects including their leader, Muhammed Abdulahi, NISS said.

Those detained, NISS said, were arrested in the capital Addis Ababa, Oromia and Ethiopia's Somali region.

Al Shabaab has been fighting for years to topple Somalia's central government, which the African Union-mandated peacekeeping force AMISOM helps to defend.

The militants have carried out numerous attacks in Somalia on military and civilian targets, and it has also conducted attacks abroad including in Kenya.

Ethiopia said on Saturday it had arrested an unspecified number of Islamist militant members of the Somali group al Shabaab and Islamic State who were planning to carry out attacks in the country on various targets including hotels.

Ethiopia said on Saturday it had arrested an unspecified number of Islamist militant members of the Somali group al Shabaab and Islamic State who were planning to carry out attacks in the country on various targets including hotels. Some of those arrested were carrying out intelligence work including photographing potential targets, the National Intelligence Security Services (NISS) said in a statement read out on state-affiliated broadcaster Fana. "The group was preparing to attack hotels, religious festivities gathering places and public areas in Addis Ababa," NISS said. Ethiopian intelligence coordinated with neighbouring Djibouti to detain the suspects including their leader, Muhammed Abdulahi, NISS said. Those detained, NISS said, were arrested in the capital Addis Ababa, Oromia and Ethiopia's Somali region. Al Shabaab has been fighting for years to topple Somalia's central government, which the African Union-mandated peacekeeping force AMISOM helps to defend. The militants have carried out numerous attacks in Somalia on military and civilian targets, and it has also conducted attacks abroad including in Kenya.

Ethiopia arrests suspected Islamist militants

A Somali cabinet minister is among the 15 killed in an Islamic extremist attack on a hotel in Somalia&#39;s capital, police said today. 
 
Four attackers also died in the assault which was claimed by al-Shabab, Somalia&#39;s militant rebels who are allied to al-Qaida. 
 
State minister for the Prime Minister&#39;s Office, Buri Hamza, was among those killed, said Capt Mohamed Hussein, a senior Somali police officer. 
 
Hamza died when his hotel room collapsed on Saturday because of the powerful car bomb which extremists used to blast their way into the Nasa-Hablod Hotel. 
 
At least 34 people were injured, according to police and hospital sources. 
 
It is the second attack on a hotel since the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramzan in early June. Both attacks have been claimed by al-Shabab. 
 
The attacks have raised concerns about the security of hotels in the seaside capital which has seen numerous attacks by al-Shabab in recent years. 
 
&quot;The trend and lethality of such attacks suggest how vulnerable the security of hotels and the city in general are now,&quot; said Mohamed Sheikh Abdi, a Somali political analyst. 
 
&quot;By carrying out such attacks, al-Shabab aims to portray itself as the stronger and dominant force when it comes to the security of the city,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;Many residents now shun going to hotels that provide some of the few sources of entertainment available in Mogadishu.&quot; 
 
Mogadishu resident Ahmed Ali said that he has stopped going to hotels because they are &quot;death traps because they are favourite targets for al-Shabab ... Having fun at hotels is good but my safety comes first.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)

State minister Buri Hamza died when his hotel room collapsed on Saturday because of a powerful car bomb used by extremists

A Somali cabinet minister is among the 15 killed in an Islamic extremist attack on a hotel in Somalia's capital, police said today. Four attackers also died in the assault which was claimed by al-Shabab, Somalia's militant rebels who are allied to al-Qaida. State minister for the Prime Minister's Office, Buri Hamza, was among those killed, said Capt Mohamed Hussein, a senior Somali police officer. Hamza died when his hotel room collapsed on Saturday because of the powerful car bomb which extremists used to blast their way into the Nasa-Hablod Hotel. At least 34 people were injured, according to police and hospital sources. It is the second attack on a hotel since the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramzan in early June. Both attacks have been claimed by al-Shabab. The attacks have raised concerns about the security of hotels in the seaside capital which has seen numerous attacks by al-Shabab in recent years. "The trend and lethality of such attacks suggest how vulnerable the security of hotels and the city in general are now," said Mohamed Sheikh Abdi, a Somali political analyst. "By carrying out such attacks, al-Shabab aims to portray itself as the stronger and dominant force when it comes to the security of the city," he said. "Many residents now shun going to hotels that provide some of the few sources of entertainment available in Mogadishu." Mogadishu resident Ahmed Ali said that he has stopped going to hotels because they are "death traps because they are favourite targets for al-Shabab ... Having fun at hotels is good but my safety comes first." (PTI)

Somali minister among 15 killed in extremist attack on hotel