UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres has expressed alarm over renewed violence in Somalia after heavy gunfire erupted in central Mogadishu. Mr Guterres said this in a note to correspondents delivered by Stéphane Dujarric, his spokesman, on Thursday in New York.

News reports indicated that former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire accused government forces of attacking him ahead of planned protests.

The UN chief stressed the urgent need for all stakeholders to return to dialogue and identify a path forward that preserves the progress Somalia has made in recent years, while ensuring protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.

He called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoid actions that could fuel further violence, and resolve political differences through peaceful dialogue.

The UN Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia said it and its international partners had repeatedly warned of the risk of a repeat of the political crisis seen in 2021, stemming from disagreements over the electoral roadmap.

The mission noted that those warnings had not been heeded and urged Somali leaders to prioritise the national interest and resume talks that ended on May 15.

International partners, it added, remain ready to support and facilitate renewed dialogue. 

(NAN)