Mogadishu (HornCurrent) – Three former Somali presidents — Abdikasim Salad Hassan, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, and Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo — have issued a strongly worded joint statement condemning what they describe as the “unlawful seizure and sale” of public land in Mogadishu, following a deadly government eviction operation that sparked armed clashes in the capital.
The former leaders accused the government of engaging in corrupt land deals and warned that such actions undermine public trust, threaten stability, and violate the rights of citizens.
“This reckless and unlawful seizure of public land undermines the rule of law, destabilizes communities, and threatens peace in Mogadishu,” the joint statement declared.
They urged the federal government to immediately halt the evictions, investigate those responsible for the deaths and displacement, and adopt transparent legal mechanisms to resolve property disputes. The former presidents also warned that unchecked land grabs could deepen political divisions and fuel further violence in the capital.
The statement comes amid rising public outrage after the eviction operation left several people dead and forced dozens of families from their homes. Civil society groups and opposition voices have also called for an independent investigation into the incident.
