Former President Sharif Condemns Government Evictions, Calls Military Actions “Cowardly”

MOGADISHU — Former Transitional Federal Government President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has strongly condemned the federal government’s ongoing eviction and demolition operations in Mogadishu, accusing the Somali National Army and presidential guards of directly participating in the forced displacement of civilians.

In remarks addressing the escalating crisis, Sharif criticized the government’s use of military forces against ordinary citizens at a time when the country is still engaged in a war against Al-Shabaab militants. He questioned why military resources intended for counter-terrorism operations are being used to displace residents.

“The presidential guard has increasingly become directly involved in the displacement operations,” Sharif said. “We are also seeing the Somali National Army’s heavy machinery being used to demolish homes.” He described the situation as regrettable and called on government officials and soldiers to refrain from participating in actions targeting civilians.

“These bullets are meant for Al-Shabaab, not for civilians. Why have they run away when facing the Khawaarij? When you shoot at civilians, it’s not bravery—it cannot be justified. It is inhumanity,” Sharif said.

The former President directly pressed President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to intervene and halt the evictions, saying the government bears the responsibility of protecting citizens from dispossession.

Escalating Land Crisis in Mogadishu

Sharif’s statement comes amid escalating tensions in Mogadishu over government-led demolitions and forced evictions, with nearly 10 people injured in clashes between government forces and residents protesting the demolition of homes in the Tookiyo neighbourhood of Yaqshiid district on August 23. Residents staged a protest after being informed that their homes would be demolished on land the government claims as public property. Social media images showed injured young people being treated at Mogadishu hospitals.

The Tookiyo demolitions follow growing unrest over forced evictions in other parts of Mogadishu. Also this month, families in the Wabari district took to the streets to protest forced evictions, with demonstrators criticising President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and accusing Turkey of supporting what they described as a “bloody hand” in Somalia. Somali government forces used live ammunition against residents resisting eviction from their homes, according to reports. “We have nowhere to go. We are civilians. We are being robbed,” a woman said while protesting the forced evictions in Wabari.

Heavy fighting also erupted in the capital when rival security factions clashed over government attempts to demolish the Warlaliska neighbourhood in the Daynile district. The area is home to thousands of low-income families, many of whom depend on daily income from the Bakaro market. Witnesses reported heavily armed forces entering the neighbourhood with bulldozers and attempting to demolish houses while some residents remained inside, refusing evacuation orders.

Tensions have risen in the Siliga Towfiiq area of Yaqshiid district, where dozens of families have staged protests against what they describe as systematic land grabs by powerful business interests. Residents accuse individuals of fraudulently selling off their homes and plots of land, leaving many households without shelter.

A Somali internet service provider, SOON, has accused members of the presidential guard of raiding and demolishing its main network hub in Mogadishu’s Bondhere district, escalating concerns over alleged land seizures near the presidential palace. Parliamentarian Qali Shire is said to be claiming the property, raising questions about the involvement of powerful figures in contested land cases around Villa Somalia.

Political Condemnation and Warnings

Sharif has previously issued a stark warning that the country’s fragile statehood is “on the brink of collapse” due to what he called rampant and unlawful land seizures by politically connected elites. Speaking during a meeting with residents recently displaced from their homes, Sharif accused influential businessmen and well-placed officials of orchestrating widespread land grabs across the capital and beyond, describing the practice as “a dangerous betrayal of the public trust” that undermines stability.

MP Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame has previously warned that forced evictions in Mogadishu could fuel extremism, saying the government’s actions risk creating a humanitarian and security catastrophe. “This isn’t just about homelessness; it’s about national security,” Abdishakur said, warning that the government’s campaign was “handing Al-Shabaab a powerful recruitment tool on a silver platter.” He emphasised that when citizens are stripped of their homes, dignity, and livelihoods without due process, the resulting despair becomes fertile ground for extremist groups seeking to exploit grievances.

The Union of Somali Islamic Scholars Councils has also called on the federal government to halt actions that deprive citizens of their property rights, urging President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, the Banadir regional administration, and relevant government institutions to independently investigate the complaints and hold accountable anyone found to have abused their authority.

Critical Note

The Tookiyo demolitions represent another escalation in the growing crisis over land governance in Mogadishu. The use of force against residents protesting the destruction of their homes reflects a troubling pattern of governance failure that undermines the rule of law and public trust. The government’s stated justification—that the land is public property—raises questions about the transparency of land administration and the protection of citizens’ property rights.

The pattern of forced evictions, demolitions, and violent clashes in Wabari, Yaqshiid, and Daynile demonstrates that these are not isolated incidents but part of a broader crisis. The allegations of politically connected land grabs, the involvement of security forces in evictions, and the targeting of opposition figures suggest that the problem extends beyond individual cases to systemic governance failures.

The government must immediately halt all demolition operations pending a transparent review of land claims and establish a fair mechanism for resolving disputes. Without urgent action to address the grievances of affected communities, the cycle of violence, displacement, and instability is likely to continue. The international community must press for accountability and the protection of property rights, recognizing that land disputes are not merely local grievances but threats to Somalia’s long-term stability.