Somalia's Ex-Leaders Issue Stark Warning Over Land Grabbing in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia - In a pointed critique of current administration policies, three of Somalia's most influential former leaders have banded together to decry what they describe as the illegal appropriation of public land in Mogadishu.

Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, once president, along with former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre and parliamentarian Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, released a statement on Saturday lambasting the federal government for what they claim is the systematic displacement of local citizens to make way for private interests.

Their statement paints a bleak picture of Mogadishu's public lands being handed over to business elites, distributed to preferred families close to President Hassan Sheikh, or used as currency in corrupt exchanges.

"Warning businessmen who illegally sell or acquire public land, and those involved in bribery, not to be deceived into believing they own or control government land," the statement read, signaling a direct challenge to the current practices under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's administration.

The prominent opposition leaders also illuminated the broader picture of governance in Somalia, pointing to the persistent security threats, economic volatility, and political fragmentation that continue to plague the nation. They urged immediate action to tackle these systemic issues.

The government's recent moves to reclaim land for state use have not gone uncontested. While the intent was ostensibly for public development, there are growing accusations that some of the lands have ended up in private hands. The demolition of the School Policia cemetery, a move to construct a naval base, has particularly inflamed public sentiment, seen by many as a desecration of sacred ground.

This collective outcry from former leaders with significant political clout underscores the deep-seated concerns over land rights and governance in Somalia. It comes at a time when the country, still emerging from the shadows of civil war, struggles with the delicate task of nation-building and establishing a rule of law that respects both heritage and the needs of its people.

The statement not only challenges the immediate actions of land issues but also calls into question the integrity of government processes, reflecting a broader call for accountability and transparency in the public lands in Mogadishu.

GAROWE ONLINE