Mogadishu Protests Turn Deadly as Security Forces Open Fire During Deyniile Demolitions
MOGADISHU — Three civilians were reportedly killed and several others wounded on Sunday after Somali security forces opened fire during protests against the demolition of homes in Mogadishu’s Deyniile district, according to former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire and local media reports.
The violence erupted in the Warlaliska area, where security personnel accompanied workers carrying out demolitions. Residents confronted the operation, protesting the destruction of homes and what they described as forced displacement.
The precise death toll remained unclear. Khaire said three civilians had been killed, while another local report put the number of fatalities at two. The federal government had not published an official casualty figure or provided a detailed account of the shooting at the time of reporting.
Khaire condemns use of force
Khaire, who served as Somalia’s prime minister from 2017 to 2020, condemned the shootings in a statement posted on Facebook.
He expressed condolences to the families of those killed and called for the protection of civilians, accusing the administration of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of responsibility for the violence.
Khaire also alleged that the demolitions involved land grabbing, destruction of homes and unlawful displacement. However, he provided no evidence that the president personally ordered security forces to shoot protesters. The presidency had not publicly responded to his accusation.
The former prime minister urged police and military personnel involved in the operation to refrain from using force against civilians, warning that those responsible for unlawful killings could eventually face accountability.
Dispute over demolitions and land rights
Local reports said more than 200 homes were demolished during the operation, although that figure had not been independently verified.
Residents have repeatedly accused authorities of carrying out evictions without adequate legal procedures, compensation or a satisfactory resolution of land ownership disputes. Such allegations have contributed to tensions in Deyniile and other parts of Mogadishu where urban expansion, competing property claims and government-backed clearance operations have affected residential communities.
The latest confrontation highlights the risks of conducting demolition operations in disputed areas without transparent legal procedures, meaningful consultation with residents and effective safeguards against violence.
Questions facing the federal government
The federal government now faces questions over the circumstances surrounding the shooting, the legal basis for the demolitions and the measures taken to protect residents.
An independent investigation would need to establish how many people were killed or injured, whether security personnel used force in accordance with the law, and whether residents received legally required notice and due process before their homes were destroyed.
The authorities should also clarify the ownership status of the affected land, identify the agencies responsible for the operation and explain what remedies are available to displaced families.
The central issue extends beyond Sunday’s confrontation: a government’s authority to manage public land and enforce property decisions must be accompanied by legal accountability and protection for civilians.
