Armed clashes break out in Mogadishu, Somalia, ahead of a planned anti-government demonstration, with violence continuing into Thursday, according to multiple reports. The fighting involves supporters associated with opposition political figures and Somalia’s state security forces. Several outlets describe the clashes as starting in the previous evening and continuing as tensions rise between the government and opposition leaders. The confrontation is linked to opposition protests scheduled to take place later, with reports stating the violence erupts before the demonstration proceeds. Coverage emphasizes the armed nature of the clashes and the involvement of both opposition supporters and security forces, but provides limited detail on casualties or specific allegations from either side in the excerpts provided. Overall, the reports portray the incident as part of broader political friction in Somalia’s capital, with the planned rally acting as a trigger or focal point for escalating confrontation between opposing political factions and state authorities.