Somalia: Soldiers stage protest in Mogadishu June 20

Event

Soldiers in the capital Mogadishu (Banaadir region) staged peaceful protests on Saturday, June 20, over alleged unpaid salaries. Reportedly, soldiers blocked roads and some soldiers blocked vehicles belonging to the African Union peacekeeping force from passing.

Further protests are possible over the near term.

Context

The protests come amid an ongoing insurgency in Somalia from militants, including Al-Shabaab. Some soldiers have claimed that Al-Shabaab were responsible for two attacks carried out in Somalia, one in Wanlaweyn (Lower Shabelle region) on June 20, and another in Ba'adweyn (Mudug region) on Sunday, 21 June. The attacks killed seven people, three of whom were soldiers. In 2019, under pressure from international donors, the Somali government began paying soldiers directly via banks to allegedly prevent commanders from siphoning off some of the soldiers' salaries.

Advice

Those in the Mogadishu are advised to monitor developments, avoid all protests as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.

The security environment in Somalia remains complex. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.