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Somali police have shut down an illegal abortion clinic that had been secretly operating in Mogadishu’s Deyniile district. The facility was discovered after an investigation revealed that women were being forced or persuaded to undergo unsafe abortions.
Police spokesman Abdifatah Adan Hassan said officers raided the house where the illegal operations were taking place, arresting the man behind the business along with several women who worked with him. According to the police, the group targeted women with unwanted or socially unacceptable pregnancies — including those in secret marriages or relationships outside wedlock — and charged each client $400 for the procedure.
“This house was a place where women had their babies aborted — women with illegal pregnancies or those secretly married who didn’t want to get pregnant,” said spokesman Abdifatah Adan. “Today, we have captured the man in charge and the women involved in this illegal operation.”
Hassan described the discovery as disturbing, noting that the clinic had been operating openly and even promoting its services on social media. “It is shocking that they had posters and a Facebook page advertising abortion services under the pretense of helping women with unwanted pregnancies,” he added.
Authorities carried out the operation in partnership with the Somali National Health Professionals’ Council (NHPC), which strongly condemned the illegal activities. The NHPC’s Secretary-General, Dr. Cadow, said the council’s responsibility is to ensure that medical practices across the country follow professional ethics and protect public health.
“The activities carried out in this house were completely illegal and violated every health and ethical standard,” said Dr. Cadow. “We are committed to taking action against any facility that endangers lives or undermines the medical profession.”
Abortion is strictly prohibited under Somali law except when the mother’s life is at risk, and both those who perform and those who receive illegal abortions can face criminal charges. Police said the suspects will be taken to court as investigations continue to determine how long the facility had been running and whether other people were involved.
Officials also urged the public to report similar cases to the authorities and warned that anyone found promoting or conducting illegal medical services will face prosecution. The police said shutting down such operations is part of a broader effort to protect women’s health, prevent exploitation, and enforce medical laws in the country.
Authorities have not released details about how many women were treated at the center, but they emphasized that the discovery highlights a growing concern about unlicensed health practices in Mogadishu. The incident has also sparked discussions about the need for better awareness and safe reproductive health services within legal boundaries.