Somalia: Mogadishu braces for mass protests over forced evictions and demolitions

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Mogadishu is preparing for potentially significant anti-government protests after Somalia’s opposition called for demonstrations over forced evictions, widespread home demolitions and growing public frustration with the federal administration.

The protests, scheduled for Sunday, May 10, come at a politically sensitive moment as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud simultaneously invited opposition leaders for talks on the country’s electoral process and political future. The overlapping events have heightened tensions in the Somali capital, where authorities and opposition figures are locked in an increasingly confrontational dispute over governance, security and public grievances.

Opposition leaders have urged residents affected by demolitions and displacement to join demonstrations across Mogadishu, arguing that citizens have a constitutional right to peacefully express dissatisfaction with government policies. The protests are expected to focus heavily on forced evictions that have displaced hundreds of thousands of residents in recent months.

The controversy surrounding land demolitions has become one of the most divisive political issues in Somalia. Critics accuse authorities of removing vulnerable communities from valuable areas of the capital before transferring land to influential business interests and politically connected individuals. Government officials, however, have defended some demolition campaigns as part of urban planning, security measures and infrastructure development efforts.

The demonstrations are also expected to highlight worsening humanitarian conditions in Mogadishu during the ongoing Gu rainy season, which has left many displaced families exposed to heavy rains, flooding and deteriorating living conditions. Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned about the vulnerability of internally displaced people in Somalia, especially those living in temporary shelters with limited access to sanitation, healthcare and emergency assistance.

Federal authorities have issued strong warnings against unauthorized protests. Security officials said they would not permit demonstrations that have not received official approval and warned that individuals participating in unlawful gatherings could face legal consequences.

Mogadishu police commander Moalim Mahdi appealed to residents to ignore opposition mobilization efforts, describing organizers as actors seeking to destabilize the capital. Opposition supporters and critics of the administration, however, accuse security officials of playing a central role in controversial land seizures and forced displacement operations carried out in several districts of Mogadishu over recent years.

Political tensions increased further after reports emerged that tens of thousands of people had registered online to participate in the demonstrations. Organizers claimed registration numbers had surpassed 27,000 by Friday, fueling fears among authorities that the protests could evolve into a broader anti-government movement driven by economic hardship, displacement and dissatisfaction with public services.

Public frustration has been growing in Somalia’s capital amid complaints about rising taxation, poor infrastructure and lack of visible development despite years of international financial support for state-building efforts. Many residents continue to face flooded roads, weak public services and worsening economic pressures, particularly during seasonal rains.

The political climate is also being shaped by uncertainty surrounding Somalia’s electoral process and constitutional timeline. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s current term is approaching a critical stage, adding pressure to already tense standoff between the government and opposition over the future political direction of the country.

Ahead of the planned demonstrations, Somali authorities arrested three journalists on Friday, according to local media and rights advocates. The journalists were reportedly involved in coverage related to forced evictions, land disputes and displacement in Mogadishu. Their arrests came after security agencies detained a number of young people accused of mobilizing support for the protests through social media campaigns and public activism.

Human rights organizations and opposition figures have expressed concern over what they describe as an expanding crackdown on dissenting voices, journalists and activists. Critics argue that arrests, intimidation and restrictions on political expression have intensified in recent months as pressure on the government has increased.

As reported by The Guardian this week, Somali security forces stripped, beat and tortured a young woman, Sa’diya Moalim, who had become prominent on social media after being arrested for her activism highlighting the hardships faced by the public, especially tuk-tuk drivers, among whom she was a member.

Despite these alleged abuses, the Somali government continues to receive millions of dollars in security, budgetary and other forms of assistance from the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, whose support was intended to help transform Somalia into a peaceful democracy, but which critics say is instead being used to fund repression, intimidation and human rights abuses, potentially undermining decades of Western state-building efforts in Somalia that have already cost billions of US dollars.

However, critics argue that weak oversight and political tensions risk undermining those long-term international investments. Analysts warn that escalating confrontation between the government and opposition could further destabilize Mogadishu at a time when Somalia is already facing security threats from Al-Shabaab, economic hardship and recurring humanitarian crises linked to droughts and flooding.

With opposition protests expected to test the government’s response and public support, attention is now turning to whether Sunday’s demonstrations will proceed peacefully or deepen Somalia’s already fragile political divisions.

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