Mogadishu, Somalia – Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has urged the government to return unused public land to families who were displaced from it, warning against the growing trend of land disputes in Mogadishu.
Sharif’s remarks came shortly after opposition leaders, including members of the Council of Presidential Candidates, visited families recently evicted from several plots in the capital. The families claim that state-owned lands are being sold or transferred to private investors without due process, leaving them with no alternative shelter.
Sharif, who currently leads the Himilo Qaran party, said land ownership has been one of Somalia’s most contentious issues since the collapse of central authority in 1991. He stressed that evictions should not occur without proper legal procedures and alternative resettlement.
“If the land is not being used for public benefit, it should be returned to the rightful families who have long resided on it,” he said.
The dispute comes amid broader concerns about land governance in Somalia, where weak institutions and decades of conflict have left property rights murky. Local advocacy groups argue that forced evictions—often involving police and security forces—are worsening the humanitarian situation in Mogadishu, which already hosts large numbers of internally displaced people.
Government officials have not commented directly on the opposition’s claims but insist that reclaiming state land is necessary for infrastructure and development projects. However, critics say the lack of transparency fuels public suspicion that some parcels are being diverted for private gain.
The issue of land rights has historically been a flashpoint in Somalia’s politics, with disputes frequently leading to clan conflicts. Sharif’s call for a fairer process may reignite debate over how to balance public development needs with the rights of displaced families.