A Somali government policy that seeks to clear public land for redevelopment has sparked an outcry in Mogadishu as residents bemoan being evicted from homes they have lived in for decades.
The policy, which grants developers documents to claim public land, has led to a surge in demolitions, with bulldozers now tearing down homes, shops, and even graveyards almost daily.
Observers say public complaints about forced evictions have increased at an alarming rate since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud returned to power in 2022.
Public cemeteries, open markets, and even private homes have been targeted, often by government officials or private investors with close ties to the President, whose family and friends are said to be the main perpetrators of this increasingly widespread practice.
Rights groups and city residents say the wave of forced evictions and illegal land grabs now appears to be a coordinated campaign involving both local and national leaders.
Earlier this year, in a shocking move, the government ordered the exhumation of dozens of graves at the Police Academy Cemetery, a historic burial ground on the outskirts of Mogadishu.
In the days leading up to the exercise, families of the deceased were instructed to relocate the remains to make way for new construction. Many of the families traveled long distances to remove bodies of their relatives who had been buried at the cemetery for years.
Grave removal is something almost unheard of in Somalia, a nation where graves are held in high cultural regard. This action set off widespread anger throughout the country. Reports indicate that the reason behind this initiative was to clear the land for commercial developers who are closely linked to government officials.
This was not just a one-off incident. Investigations that came out in March from independent news sources showed that large areas of public land, including spots along the coast and market areas, have been quietly handed over to people with political connections.
These transfers were made without transparent bidding, environmental assessments, or legal review. Traders and homeowners were expelled from buildings they had occupied for decades.
The displacements have already attracted international attention. The U.S. State Department’s 2022 human rights report highlighted instances where both federal and regional officials seized land and forced people out of their homes.
It cautioned that these actions, frequently aimed at those already displaced within their own country, are becoming a bigger threat to stability and the rule of law in the Horn of Africa country.
As this happens, leaders from civil society groups are now urging a pause on land transfers and a thorough review of recent deals. However, with powerful interests implicated, few expect swift action.
