MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Tensions are escalating in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, amid rival troop deployments around Siinay market, where the government is pressing ahead with a controversial demolition plan. The move has sparked fierce opposition from local residents and political figures who accuse authorities of selling off public land to wealthy businessmen.
On Monday, former interim director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) Yasin Farey – now an MP – entered the market accompanied by heavily armed troops, raising fears of a possible armed confrontation. Government forces are already stationed outside the market in preparation for its demolition.
The MP, who hails from the same sub-clan as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has strongly condemned the eviction plans. He described them as unconstitutional, inhumane, and oppressive, claiming they target some of the capital’s most vulnerable communities who rely on the market for their livelihoods.
He called on Siinay residents to resist the demolitions, including by force if necessary, alleging that the land is being handed over to businessmen with close ties to the President.
The Somali government has in recent months demolished entire neighbourhoods in Mogadishu, many of which were informal settlements that grew during the state’s decades-long collapse. Authorities argue these areas sit on public land and must be cleared for redevelopment.
However, critics say the evictions have disproportionately affected the poor, who are given no compensation, relocation, or basic support. They also accuse the government of selling off the cleared land to politically connected elites without transparency or accountability.
Similar unrest has erupted in Daynile district, where squatters were forcibly removed from the former metal industry site. Local elders and residents have condemned the government’s plan to hand the land to private developers, describing it as unjust. Armed clashes broke out over the weekend after unidentified gunmen attacked security forces guarding the area.
Opposition MPs, including Abdirahman Abdishakur, have accused President Mohamud of presiding over what they describe as “state-enabled looting” of public land. They allege that proceeds from land sales are not entering government coffers but are instead enriching a small circle of insiders, including the President’s family.
The government has yet to respond to these allegations. However, the deepening anger over land evictions risks triggering broader instability in a city already grappling with poverty, insecurity, and political friction.
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