Wednesday December 10, 2025 {HMC} Somalia’s main opposition coalition, the Somali Salvation Forum, on Tuesday condemned what it called the unlawful arrests and forced evictions carried out by federal security forces in the Dab-dhamiiska section of Mogadishu’s Wadajir district, warning that the operation reflects a growing pattern of rights violations linked to government-led land reclamation drives across the capital.
In a statement, the Forum said it had received credible reports that residents were forcibly removed from their homes and subjected to severe hardship during the operation, actions it described as violations that have “crippled their lives and fundamental rights.” The coalition said the measures contravene the Provisional Federal Constitution and principles of good governance, calling the operation “reprehensible” and demanding accountability for those responsible.
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The group urged security agencies and federal authorities to launch a transparent investigation and ensure that confiscated homes and property are immediately returned to their owners. It also called on national leaders to end the use of force in civilian areas and uphold their responsibility to safeguard citizens’ rights.
The incident in Wadajir comes amid rising public concern over a series of eviction-related confrontations reported across Mogadishu in recent months. In October, the Forum denounced the arrest of Himilo TV journalist Khadar Abdirahim and several rights advocates who were documenting the displacement of residents from the Sinai Market area. The coalition said at the time that the arrests violated constitutional protections for free expression, property rights and citizen safety.
Similar allegations resurfaced in late November, when the Forum condemned what it described as the forced displacement of families in Yaqshiid district and the killing of Abdullahi Abdi Raage, a longtime resident of Buulo-Geesaale. According to the group, he was shot while protesting ongoing evictions. A Himilo Media photographer and a Mogadishu municipal staff member were also reportedly detained during that operation.
Opposition leaders have repeatedly accused the federal government of mishandling public land and using security forces to enforce displacement. In a broader statement earlier this year, the Forum accused the administration of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of “selling public land while neglecting the fight against terrorist groups.” The coalition reiterated that stance during a two-day meeting in Mogadishu, arguing that the government’s land policy and redevelopment initiatives have lacked transparency and placed vulnerable families at risk.
Concerns intensified in recent months after Forum leadership and allied lawmakers announced plans to file lawsuits in Somali courts and international jurisdictions, accusing senior officials of constitutional violations, corruption and human rights abuses. The group cited alleged unlawful amendments to the 2012 constitution, failure to organize overdue state elections and the forced eviction of low-income families as evidence of a broader governance crisis.
The federal government has said it is reclaiming public land that was unlawfully sold or repurposed, but critics contend that the process has been marred by unclear procedures and heavy-handed enforcement. The government has not yet commented on the Wadajir incident or the latest allegations from opposition figures.
The Somali Salvation Forum, which recently aligned with Puntland and Jubaland leaders through the formation of the Somali Future Council, has urged Somalis to defend constitutional order and press for accountability ahead of the 2026 electoral transition. The bloc says continued evictions and property disputes risk further eroding public trust and destabilizing efforts to strengthen federal institutions.
UPDATE: This story has been updated to include additional context from earlier Hiiraan Online reporting on eviction-related operations in Sinai Market and Yaqshiid district, as well as background on the Somali Salvation Forum’s previous allegations concerning land sales, constitutional disputes and planned legal action against senior federal officials. The update also clarifies the Forum’s political alignment through the recently formed Somali Future Council.
Source Hiiraan online
