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Three former Somali presidents have strongly criticized the government’s handling of public land in Mogadishu, accusing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of violating the Constitution and displacing poor families.
In a joint statement issued Tuesday, Abdiqasim Salad Hassan, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, and Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo urged the government “to cease the exploitation of public property and the oppression of vulnerable citizens.”
The statement opened with condolences to families affected by recent clashes over land. “May Allah have mercy on those who died and grant recovery to the injured,” the former leaders said.
Constitutional Safeguards Ignored
The ex-presidents said the government’s actions go against Somalia’s Provisional Constitution and national laws that regulate public land. They cited Articles 25, 26, and 43 of the Constitution, as well as provisions from the Public Financial Management Act and land distribution laws.
They stressed that removing land from the national register must follow strict procedures, including:
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Ensuring citizens live in a safe and healthy environment.
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Justifying land sales as necessary.
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Oversight by the National Procurement Authority.
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Public announcements in the Official Gazette and in community gathering places.
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Equal and fair access to land.
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Sustainable use that avoids environmental harm.
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Proper dispute resolution.
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Protection of small landowners from exploitation.
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Depositing all proceeds into the Central Treasury.
“Every citizen has the right to live in an environment that does not harm their health or quality of life,” the statement said.
Three Demands to President Mohamud
The former leaders outlined three key demands:
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Stop the exploitation of state property.
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Resettle displaced families in line with their constitutional right to housing.
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Return public land to government control unless its disposal follows legal procedures.
They also warned Somali business leaders not to be “deceived into participating in the corruption and looting of national property.”
Violence Over Horseed Stadium
The joint statement followed violent clashes last week in Mogadishu over a disputed takeover of Horseed Stadium, near Tarabuunka junction. The site had been occupied by families since the collapse of Somalia’s central government in 1991.
On August 14, Somali security forces tried to reclaim the land, sparking gun battles with armed militia. The police said the operation was meant to “enhance security and combat illegal weapons,” but admitted that civilians, soldiers, and militia members were killed or wounded. Residents of Hodan district fled as gunfire spread, and hospitals reported treating several injured civilians, including young people caught in the crossfire.
The dispute came from a government order months earlier for residents to vacate the land for a redevelopment project. Many residents resisted, accusing the government of prioritizing business interests over the rights of long-settled families.
Growing Public Anger
Public frustration has been building over a wave of forced evictions in Mogadishu.
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In December 2024, security forces demolished homes in Hamar Jajab district without notice or compensation.
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Families were forced out of old Soviet-era housing in the Kalluunka neighborhood.
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In July 2024, residents were cleared from land claimed by the Interior Ministry.
In January 2025, parliament raised concerns, with 97 lawmakers accusing Villa Somalia of misusing public property. They warned that plots originally allocated for schools and hospitals were being illegally acquired.
Worsening Humanitarian Impact
Humanitarian groups say evictions are worsening Somalia’s displacement crisis. The Norwegian Refugee Council reported that 143,500 people were displaced in 2024, most of them in Mogadishu. The UK Home Office noted in July 2025 that internally displaced people now make up more than a third of the capital’s population, with government-led evictions as a major cause.
Analysts and local think tanks argue that Somalia’s land governance system is weak and fragmented, with overlapping laws and poor enforcement fueling conflict. Rising land values in Mogadishu have made public property a battleground where politics, business, and the survival of ordinary families collide.
