21/10/2025
Land Grabbing in Mogadishu Escalates — Thousands of Women and Families Displaced
MOGADISHU – October 2025:
Widespread land grabbing and forced evictions are once again tearing through Mogadishu, leaving hundreds of women in detention and thousands of families homeless. Most of the victims belong to the Hawiye clans, particularly Habargidir, Abgaal, and Murusade, according to residents and human rights activists.
Eyewitnesses report that bulldozers, backed by armed security personnel, have demolished entire neighborhoods, forcing residents into the streets without warning or compensation. Many of those displaced are women and children now sleeping in makeshift shelters on the outskirts of the capital.
“The people who were supposed to protect us — those in politics, business, and security — are the ones behind these violations,” said one affected resident who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal.
Community elders and religious leaders have been notably silent, drawing criticism from civil society groups who accuse them of turning a blind eye to one of the most serious humanitarian injustices facing Mogadishu’s residents in recent years.
Observers warn that the current wave of land seizures risks igniting social unrest. “Those who profit from stolen land will ultimately lose everything,” one analyst noted. “And those who are oppressed today will rise tomorrow.”
Human rights defenders are calling on the Somali government and international partners to intervene urgently, ensure accountability, and restore homes to displaced families.
In the meantime, the victims — mainly women, widows, and children — continue to plead for justice, holding onto patience and faith that their voices will eventually be heard.
Image Caption:
Women protest after their homes were demolished during forced evictions in Mogadishu. The latest wave of land grabbing has disproportionately affected women from Hawiye sub-clans.
Source: Waagacusub.net
By Dahir Alasow Investigative Journalist
