MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somalia’s three former presidents have unleashed a rare and stinging rebuke of the country’s current leader, accusing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government of orchestrating deadly public land grabs that they say trample citizens’ rights and violate the nation’s constitution.
Abdiqasim Salad Hassan, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo allege that state-owned property is being sold illegally through backroom deals — with security forces deployed to forcibly evict residents. In some cases, they claim, civilians were killed to clear the way for land sales.
Bloodshed in Mogadishu
The accusations follow violent clashes in Mogadishu last week, where several people died after security forces confronted armed men during an eviction tied to military-owned land. The incident underscored growing tensions over who controls the capital’s most valuable plots.
In their joint statement, the former leaders warned that Somalia’s Provisional Constitution and national laws had been “blatantly violated.” They demanded immediate transparency, strict land registration, equitable access for citizens and that all revenues from public land sales be deposited directly into the national treasury.
Political Earthquake
The statement is politically explosive. Former President Abdiqasim Salad Hassan — largely absent from politics for nearly two decades — felt compelled to speak out, joining Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Farmaajo in condemning the government. Analysts say the unprecedented unity signals how grave the crisis has become.
Arlaadi Media has reached out to the Somali government for comment. Public land grabs have long fueled violence in Somalia.
Years of war, mass displacement and weak institutions have left property ownership bitterly contested — especially in Mogadishu, where strategic plots tied to the military and state infrastructure are among the most sought-after.
For President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the charges land at a dangerous moment. His administration is already under fire for worsening security, political infighting and corruption allegations. Now, Somalia’s three living ex-presidents are effectively telling him to stop — or risk deeper instability.
