Mogadishu, Somalia – A Somali family has exhumed the remains of their parents from Moalim Nur cemetery, on the outskirts of Mogadishu, and reburied them in Guriel town of Galgaduud region, seven years after the couple’s original burial.
Relatives told local media that the decision was driven by growing fears that the cemetery could face forced clearance, similar to last year’s controversial removals at Policia cemetery in Mogadishu. That incident, which saw graves bulldozed to make way for development projects, sparked outrage among bereaved families and drew criticism from religious leaders who called the act a violation of Islamic and cultural traditions.
Community members say Moalim Nur cemetery, like many graveyards in the Somali capital, is increasingly under threat due to rapid urban expansion, land disputes, and lack of legal protection for burial grounds. Families have raised concerns that their loved ones’ resting places could be disturbed without notice or consent.
The reburial in Guriel was conducted with Islamic rites, attended by relatives and community elders. Family members described the process as painful but necessary to ensure their parents’ remains would rest undisturbed.
Civil society groups continue to urge Somali authorities to introduce stronger regulations safeguarding cemeteries from forced demolition, warning that recurring grave removals risk deepening public mistrust and compounding the trauma of families already coping with loss.