Mogadishu, Somalia – 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.
The company said the guards, reportedly acting under the command of Maslah Mohamud Mohamed, arrived at its Bondhere compound early Thursday with heavy machinery, including bulldozers, and tore down key infrastructure that housed vital network equipment. The incident has disrupted services for hundreds of customers in central Mogadishu, leaving many residents and small businesses offline.
The land where SOON’s hub once stood is now at the center of a tense ownership dispute.
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. Residents nearby said the raid was swift and heavily guarded, preventing the company’s workers or local authorities from intervening.
For SOON, the destruction represents more than a financial loss—it strikes at the heart of Somalia’s fragile digital economy. Internet providers have been instrumental in connecting schools, health centers, and businesses as Mogadishu rebuilds from decades of instability. The loss of equipment and infrastructure could take months to recover, according to company officials.
The incident has also renewed public debate over the misuse of state power and the growing pattern of forceful land takeovers in Mogadishu. Locals and business owners have voiced fears that no one is safe from politically backed land grabs, even those operating within legal frameworks.
As the dust settles in Bondhere, SOON says it is pursuing legal options and calling for accountability.
Meanwhile, the raid’s proximity to Villa Somalia adds a politically charged layer to an already volatile situation—one that underscores the urgent need for land governance and protection of private enterprises in Somalia’s capital.