Somalia declares order restored after two days of fighting in Mogadishu

Violence that paralysed two Mogadishu districts subsides, but opposition rejects president’s rule and vows to fight on.Mogadishu, Somalia – Fighting between government forces and opposition fighters that paralysed parts of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, for more than two days has eased, with the federal government declaring that it has restored order.The violence erupted on Wednesday, and the government declared the districts of Abdiaziz and Hawlwadag calm on Friday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Gunfire erupts in Mogadishu before protests against Somali president’s rulelist 2 of 3Fighting in Somalia’s capital as anger over election delay eruptslist 3 of 3Why Mogadishu clashes are deepening Somalia’s political crisis againend of list“Opposition group militias have been disarmed and removed, and civilians have returned ‌to their daily lives,” the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism said in a statement.The violence stems from a dispute over whether President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the incumbent, will stay in power. He says parliament lawfully extended his term, while the opposition has called it a power grab.It was the deadliest unrest in the capital in years, with each side blaming the other for the initial outbreak of fighting.For almost two days, bursts of gunfire and loud explosions rang out across Mogadishu. Residential buildings near the fighting were hit in the exchanges.The United Nations Refugee Agency said at least 13 people were killed and 189 wounded, and that some 12,500 households fled as the fighting spread through crowded districts, with some civilians trapped at home.While the government says people have returned to normal life, UN officials warned that the humanitarian impact remains severe.The fighting started near the home of former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire in central Mogadishu, and then spread later to the residence of Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, a former president, in the north.