Mogadishu, Somalia – Tensions flared in Mogadishu’s Siinaay Market on Thursday when security forces carried out forced evictions that quickly spiraled into violence. Witnesses reported gunfire in the air, residents beaten, and traders left scrambling to save their goods from destruction.
The operation, said to be part of a disputed land clearance drive, unfolded in one of the capital’s busiest commercial hubs. Stalls and makeshift shops were dismantled under heavy police presence, drawing fierce resistance from locals who argued they had not been given fair notice or compensation.
Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who had earlier visited the market to show solidarity with the residents, was caught in the chaos. Eyewitnesses claimed he was shoved and jostled by officers attempting to disperse the crowd, a move that sparked outrage among his supporters.
Rights groups and community leaders have condemned the excessive force, warning that violent evictions risk further eroding trust between civilians and state institutions. Calls are mounting for an urgent investigation into the incident and for authorities to halt demolitions until a proper resettlement plan is in place.
Siinaay Market, long a hub for low-income traders and daily wage earners, has faced repeated eviction attempts in recent years as the city expands. Thursday’s confrontation underscores the deepening rift between residents and state agencies over land rights and urban planning in Mogadishu.
For many traders, the smoke and gunfire at Siinaay was not just a fight for space—it was a battle for survival.