Ex-Somali Presidents condemn President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration over deadly land evictions
The statement comes after at least 20 people, most of them civilians, were killed last week in fierce clashes between Somalia’s security forces and residents of Mogadishu’s Tarabunka neighbourhood during a government-led demolition campaign.
Three former Somali presidents have condemned President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration over the unlawful sale and eviction of citizens from public land, saying the actions violate the constitution and national laws.
In a statement on Tuesday, the three presidents, including Former Presidents Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Abdiqasim Salad Hassan, said the government must halt these operations immediately and ensure that all land transactions follow legal procedures.
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The statement comes after at least 20 people, most of them civilians, were killed last week in fierce clashes between Somalia’s security forces and residents of Mogadishu’s Tarabunka neighbourhood during a government-led demolition campaign.
The violence erupted when security forces attempted to clear the Horseed area, home to thousands of impoverished families who have lived there for over three decades. Residents and officials said the demolitions were part of a government plan to sell public land to private developers for high-rise projects, similar to other recent urban clearance efforts.
Witnesses described chaotic gun battles between residents and heavily armed security units, including the Turkish-trained Haram’ad special police force. Videos circulating on social media also showed wounded soldiers evacuated in pickup trucks and Somali troops firing anti-aircraft guns into residential areas, raising concerns about excessive force.
While expressing their condolences to the families of those killed, the former leaders warned that the looting of public land breaches the Somali constitution and national laws.
“First and foremost, we extend our condolences to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives during the operations concerning the misuse of public land currently taking place in Mogadishu. We say: May Allah have mercy on those who died and grant a full recovery to the injured. The looting of public land is a breach of the Somali constitution and national laws. We warn President Hassan Sheikh to refrain from this and return to the path of the law,” they said.
At least 20 people, most of them civilians, were killed last week in fierce clashes between Somalia’s security forces and residents of Mogadishu’s Tarabunka neighbourhood during a government-led demolition campaign. (Photo: Courtesy)
The former presidents called on President Hassan Sheikh to halt the exploitation of public property and ensure the resettlement of displaced citizens, stressing that any disposal of public land must follow legal procedures. They also urged Somali businesspeople and communities not to participate in corrupt practices surrounding national property, reminding them of their constitutional responsibilities.
The violent evictions in Mogadishu have drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, scholars, and human rights advocates, who accuse the government of using military force to clear land for private profit.
Abdifatah Abdinur, Puntland’s State Minister of the Presidency, said, “This is a government killing its own people over land meant for sale to businessmen, a criminal act and a clear sign of state collapse.”
Former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire condemned the use of force against civilians, stating that “it is tragic that the National Army, established to protect civilians, is now being deployed to displace and kill the poor under direct orders from President Hassan Sheikh.”
Former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and ex-Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble echoed these concerns, accusing the administration of betraying its pledge to prioritise security and combat Al-Shabaab militants.
Prominent Somali academic Mohamed Haji Ingiriis described the evictions as part of a broader strategy to monetise public land for personal gain.
“The Somali people must understand that Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s rhetoric on Al-Shabaab was a pretext to generate more money for his family from Western resources,” he wrote on X.
Analysts have also warned that the ongoing demolitions and resulting bloodshed risk further destabilising Mogadishu, potentially creating opportunities for Al-Shabaab recruitment ahead of next year’s elections.
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