Description: Government forces launched large – scale operations across the country’s capital as they clashed with militias pertaining to the other four semi – autonomous regions over the framework for the upcoming elections. The clashes broke out after protesters were barred from organizing in the capital and were continuously attacked by the Mogadishu – led government troops. The protests in Somalia were primarily organized by former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, who represent the opposition in Somalia. The opposition argues that current President Hasan Sheikh Mohamud, undermines the other parties by insisting on constitutional changes which would allow him to remain in office until the current oppositional groups and the federal government finalize a framework for the election.
Impact: Somalia’s ongoing political crisis is highly likely due to an ongoing power struggle between the five semi – autonomous regions which have different priorities and strategic goals in establishing something that resembles a political system. Somalia’s decades of continued infighting, economic crisis and large – scale presence of terrorist and pirates has likely brought the country in a severe state of crisis with foreign players such as Israel, Ethiopia and Turkey, closely entrenched into the security and political system of the country. Terrorist groups like Al – Shabab and Somali partes in the horn of Africa are likely to exploit the political crisis and the armed clashes between the clans which are set to continue in the short – term. Al Shabab has established a wide territorial presence in the country, controlling large swathes of territory and inciting the armed clashes between the government and the militias from the opposition. Somalia is likely facing a wide – scale domestic insurgency in the mid to long – term, which further diminishes the country’s prospects for stability, economic recovery and foreign investments in the near future.