MOGADISHU, Somalia — Amid growing political pressure over his push for a one-person, one-vote system in Somalia, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is now embroiled in a controversy involving the sale of government-owned properties in the capital, Mogadishu. If proven true, this scandal could deal a significant blow to his political aspirations.
Reliable sources suggest that a group of businessmen is vying to acquire the lands for real estate development, offering a substantial sum of cash in return. This appears to be the biggest scandal involving the country’s president, who also serves as the highest-ranking civil servant and protector of state-owned properties.
Since the collapse of the central government in 1991, many state-owned buildings in the capital—some partially destroyed and bearing bullet scars—have been occupied by families, with some using them as makeshift shelters and others making them their homes.
In a post on Facebook, Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, an MP and opposition political party leader, claimed that President Mohamud has turned a deaf ear to the concerns of local residents in Kallunka, a village near Aden Adde Airport in Mogadishu.
On Sunday, dozens of families staged a protest in Kallunka, urging President Mohamud not to evict them from their homes. They expressed that their need for the land is greater than that of the businessmen they allege are seeking to take it over.
MP Warsame stated that the funds generated from auctioning or selling state-owned lands have been deposited into President Mohamud’s personal account instead of being transferred to the Central Bank of Somalia.
Shedding light on the land sale scandal, Warsame pointed out that many impoverished residents had already been displaced from government-owned lands under the guise of redevelopment, with some areas being sold off.
Among the lands sold, he noted, is a fire brigade facility in Mogadishu, where thousands of families had their homes bulldozed, forcing them to salvage whatever they could from the rubble. And a cemetery at the Police Academy, known as ‘Polosio School,’ has also been affected, with families instructed to exhume bodies buried decades ago and relocate the remains of their loved ones to new burial sites.
Furthermore, properties in Odweine, Bangala Camp, the Ministry of Public Works, Hotel Jubba, and other government-owned warehouses were included, he added.
In his Facebook post, Warsame emphasized that none of the funds from the sale of state-owned lands have been deposited into the government treasury, as evidenced by the lack of corresponding revenue in Parliament’s budget. Instead, the funds have reportedly been transferred to President Mohamud’s personal account.
“A government’s foremost duty is to protect its most vulnerable citizens. Yet, under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, it feels like the administration is turning its back on those in need, prioritizing the interests of the elite instead,” he stated.
He also raised concerns about the future of vulnerable communities being displaced in the name of progress, as land is redistributed to businessmen, political allies, and well-connected friends and family. He questioned whether those affected could genuinely feel any loyalty toward a government that prioritizes the interests of a select few.
He concluded his Facebook post by stating that the abuse of state power and the violation of citizens’ rights—particularly those of the vulnerable—are key factors contributing to the nation’s decline and growing public disillusionment with governance.
Meanwhile, MP Abdirizak Garaho stated that President Mohamud’s government has reached an all-time low, marked by rampant land grabbing and the blatant allocation of key positions and military ranks along clan lines.
“Anyone who thinks they can legitimize the plundering of public lands is sorely mistaken—such actions will never be accepted. The country is in chaos, and any efforts to extend the government’s mandate under these circumstances will face fierce opposition,” he said.
Since the collapse of central authority following the overthrow of President Siad Barre’s regime in 1991, Somalia has been plunged into chaos, with land grabbing becoming a major issue in Mogadishu. This often involves senior government officials misusing their power to intimidate individuals and seize both public and private lands for personal gain. Many locals fear retaliation and the loss of their homes, while rampant corruption has fostered a culture of impunity, further complicating equitable land management in the capital.
