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Minnesota Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Developer Targeting Somali-American

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Housing Developer Accused of Fraud in Proposed Nolosha Project; Hundreds of Somali Families Seek Refunds

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a lawsuit against Abdiwali Abdullahi, the developer behind a planned housing project targeting the state’s Somali-American community. The lawsuit, filed in Hennepin County District Court, accuses Abdullahi of fraud and deceptive practices in marketing his Nolosha Development, a 37-acre housing project in Lakeville that promised affordable, interest-free homes compliant with Islamic finance principles.

Court Clash Over Somali Real Estate Developer Unveils Tensions in Minnesota

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The allegations have sent shockwaves through the Somali-American community, many of whom had placed significant financial hopes on the project. The Attorney General’s Office claims that Abdullahi misled buyers with false promises about the development’s timeline, financing options, and the nature of the housing to be built.

A Dream Deferred: Somali Families Caught in Legal Limbo

The Nolosha Development was marketed as a unique opportunity for Somali families seeking homes in compliance with their religious beliefs, particularly the prohibition against paying interest on loans. According to the lawsuit, Abdullahi’s promotional materials boasted that the development would include single-family homes priced between $370,000 and $500,000, with payment plans aligned with Islamic principles. The project was also dubbed “Nolosha Lakeville” to appeal to the growing Somali-American population in Minnesota, despite lacking necessary construction permits.

Yet, as the lawsuit details, Abdullahi’s promises have unraveled. The Attorney General’s Office alleges that over $1 million in down payments were collected from more than 160 prospective buyers, many of whom paid $25,000 each to secure their future homes. Once those lots were filled, Nolosha began charging $500 for interested buyers to join a waitlist, which has since swelled to over 1,500 names. However, the lawsuit alleges that there is no plan for the promised single-family homes, and instead, buyers will be required to finance multi-family units—far from what they were led to expect.

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Perhaps most devastating for these hopeful homeowners is the realization that Nolosha will not be ready for occupancy until at least 2025, according to court filings. The lawsuit alleges that Abdullahi has failed to acquire the development site, despite a signed purchase agreement. Repeated delays in the project’s closing date have left many Somali families in financial limbo, their dreams of homeownership indefinitely postponed.

Legal Battle Over Fraud and Accountability

The Attorney General’s lawsuit paints a picture of a development plagued by mismanagement, lack of transparency, and deceptive practices. It charges Abdullahi and Nolosha with violations of Minnesota’s consumer fraud and deceptive trade practices laws. One of the central allegations is that Nolosha failed to inform buyers about significant delays in construction, while continuing to solicit payments. Despite requests from the Attorney General’s Office to provide refunds due to these delays, Nolosha has refused.

Further complicating the legal battle is the dispute over the development site itself. While Abdullahi claims to have secured a purchase agreement for the land, the lawsuit asserts that Nolosha does not own the site and has yet to break ground. The land, currently described as “undeveloped wetlands” in court documents, stands as a stark contrast to the vision of thriving Somali-American families living in a custom-built community.

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The lawsuit also raises concerns about Abdullahi’s financial motivations. According to the Attorney General, Abdullahi is the sole full-time employee of Nolosha, drawing a salary between $2,000 and $4,000 a month while failing to deliver on his promises. These revelations have only deepened frustrations within the community, many of whom now feel exploited by a project that seemed tailored to their specific needs and values.

A Community Struggling for Justice

The Nolosha saga has reverberated throughout Minnesota’s Somali-American community, where homeownership is both an aspiration and a symbol of stability for immigrant families. Dozens of Somali families attended a hearing in August, voicing their concerns and calling for transparency in the development’s management. The courtroom saw emotional exchanges, with many attendees expressing deep disappointment over what they feel is an unjust betrayal.

“This was supposed to be a place where our families could grow and thrive,” said one Somali father who had paid the $25,000 down payment. “Now we are left with nothing but empty promises.”

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Ellison’s office has been investigating Nolosha since early 2023, spurred by what the Attorney General’s Office refers to as a whistleblower. While Abdullahi has claimed that the investigation stems from a disgruntled former employee, the lawsuit marks the first formal accusation of fraud. As the case moves forward, both sides are preparing for a contentious legal fight, with the next court hearing scheduled for October 21.

The Path Forward

As the legal process unfolds, the Somali families affected by the Nolosha Development are left grappling with uncertainty. Many had invested their life savings in the project, hoping for a future free from the complexities of traditional mortgages. Now, they are calling on the Attorney General’s Office to secure swift justice and financial restitution.

In addition to seeking refunds for the affected buyers, Ellison’s office is pushing for a court order to prevent further misrepresentations by Nolosha. Whether Abdullahi’s dream of a community-focused development will ever materialize remains to be seen, but for the families involved, the stakes could not be higher.

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As the Somali-American community watches this case unfold, it stands as a stark reminder of the vulnerability faced by minority groups in the housing market—and the critical role of legal oversight in protecting them from fraudulent practices.

Editor's Pick

Trump Locks In $2B Drone Deal With Qatar, Signaling a New Power Shift in the Middle East

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First-of-its-kind drone sale to Doha bolsters U.S. military ties with Qatar and reshapes Gulf defense dynamics. 

This isn’t just a weapons sale—it’s a strategic realignment. President Donald Trump’s approval of an unprecedented $1.96 billion arms deal with Qatar isn’t about just eight MQ-9B drones. It’s about staking out a new American red line in the Middle East. And it’s about power—airborne, unmanned, and armed to the teeth.

Qatar, long the shadowy broker in conflicts from Gaza to Kabul, is now becoming a front-row actor. With this deal, Trump is transforming Doha from a diplomatic fixer to a drone-powered sentinel capable of conducting advanced surveillance, target acquisition, and strike operations. The sale signals the first time such high-end American drones are making their way to any country in the region—a slap in the face to traditional allies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE who’ve been denied access.

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At the heart of this is Al Udeid Air Base, America’s largest military base in the Middle East, which Qatar has pumped over $8 billion into since 2003. Trump knows leverage when he sees it. While some in Washington grumble about Qatar’s cozy ties to Hamas and Tehran, Trump sees utility. He doesn’t need moral purity—he needs strategic partners.

This drone deal is a down payment on that partnership. With Hellfire missiles, radar-jamming gear, and top-tier ISR tech, Qatar just became more than a gas-rich Gulf state. It’s now an elite drone hub that can pressure Iran, monitor the Houthis, and shape conflicts from Yemen to the Strait of Hormuz.

Critics will say it empowers a country that shelters Hamas leadership. Supporters will argue it gives the U.S. another heavily armed friend who can do the dirty work. Either way, this deal turns Qatar into a decisive power broker—and proves once again that Trump plays chess, while others are still learning checkers.

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Eid Mubarak 2025: Global Celebrations Kick Off with Diverse Greetings Worldwide

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Join the global celebration by learning how to wish a blessed Eid in different languages:

With the sighting of the new moon confirmed in Saudi Arabia and neighboring regions, Eid al-Fitr celebrations officially begin on Sunday, March 30, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Eid al-Fitr, known as the “festival of breaking the fast,” is celebrated joyously by nearly 1.9 billion Muslims globally, accounting for about 25 percent of the world’s population. Countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nigeria, home to some of the largest Muslim communities, are set to embrace this festive occasion with diverse customs and vibrant celebrations.

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Traditionally, the Eid celebration lasts for three days in most Muslim-majority nations, with activities beginning just after dawn prayers and sermons. Families and friends gather to share meals, exchange sweets, and extend heartfelt greetings as they move from home to home.

The most widespread greetings are “Eid Mubarak” (Blessed Eid) and “Eid Sa’id” (Happy Eid), but variations exist worldwide, reflecting the rich linguistic diversity among Muslim communities.

Join the global celebration by learning how to wish a blessed Eid in different languages:

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  • Arabic: Eid Mubarak (عيد مبارك)
  • Indonesian: Selamat Idul Fitri
  • Urdu (Pakistan): عید مبارک (Eid Mubarak)
  • Hindi (India): ईद मुबारक (Eid Mubarak)
  • Bengali (Bangladesh): ঈদ মোবারক (Eid Mubarak)
  • Hausa (Nigeria): Barka da Sallah
  • Turkish: Bayramınız mübarek olsun
  • Persian (Iran): عید مبارک (Eid Mubarak)
  • Malay (Malaysia): Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri
  • Somali: Ciid Wanaagsan
  • Swahili (East Africa): Eid Njema
  • French: Bonne fête de l’Aïd
  • English: Eid Mubarak

Wishing everyone worldwide peace, joy, and prosperity this Eid. Eid Mubarak from waryatv.com!

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J. Peter Pham: Somalia’s President Insults Trump by Offering Ports He Doesn’t Control

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Ambassador J. Peter Pham, a prominent former US envoy to Africa and influential figure in President Trump’s circle, has openly mocked Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, calling his recent offer of Somaliland’s strategic ports to the US an outright insult and an act of utter foolishness.

Pham sharply criticized the Somali leader’s desperate bid, declaring on social media platform X, “Hassan Sheikh Mohamud thinks the Americans are fools, offering ports in Somaliland and Puntland—ports he has absolutely no control over.” Highlighting the absurdity of Mogadishu’s move, Pham underlined that the US provides Somalia with nearly $1 billion annually, money he described as being shamefully wasted.

According to Semafor newspaper, President Mohamud wrote directly to Trump, attempting to barter control over the strategic Berbera and Bosaso ports in return for Washington halting its recognition of Somaliland. However, these ports are firmly under Somaliland’s and Puntland’s jurisdiction, beyond Mogadishu’s reach—a fact the Somali president astonishingly disregarded.

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Pham, a staunch advocate of Somaliland’s recognition, portrays this latest diplomatic blunder as proof of Mogadishu’s desperation, incompetence, and disregard for American intelligence. The move has sparked fury and disbelief within American political circles, particularly among Republicans actively campaigning for Somaliland’s recognition over the past two years.

Pham’s strong condemnation reinforces that Somaliland’s recognition campaign has significant momentum in the US, leaving Somalia’s desperate diplomatic tactics increasingly isolated. With influential figures like Pham openly ridiculing Hassan Sheikh’s miscalculations, it becomes clearer that Somaliland stands poised for a historic diplomatic breakthrough, while Somalia flounders amid strategic missteps and political humiliation.

Waryatv.com readers should take note: Somalia’s diplomatic folly has inadvertently boosted Somaliland’s credibility on the global stage, marking a turning point that could reshape the Horn of Africa’s future.

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Algeria Jails French-Algerian Writer Boualem Sansal, Igniting New Tensions with France

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Boualem Sansal sentenced to five years under anti-terrorism laws after questioning Algeria-Morocco borders, drawing fierce criticism from France.

Renowned French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal has been sentenced to five years in prison by an Algerian court under contentious “anti-terrorism” laws, further inflaming diplomatic tensions between Algeria and France. Sansal, an outspoken critic of the Algerian government, was charged with “undermining national unity” after remarks he made questioning colonial-era border divisions with regional rival Morocco.

The verdict, delivered on Thursday in Dar El Beida near Algiers, stemmed from an interview Sansal gave to French far-right outlet Frontieres last October. Sansal argued that France had unfairly redrawn Algeria’s borders during colonial times, incorporating Moroccan territory—remarks seen as incendiary by Algerian authorities.

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French President Emmanuel Macron swiftly condemned the decision, publicly appealing to Algeria’s sense of “good sense and humanity,” citing Sansal’s reported battle with cancer. The imprisonment of the celebrated author, winner of the 2011 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, has added fuel to already strained Franco-Algerian relations, following France’s recent diplomatic shift to support Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.

Sansal, who represented himself in court, denied that his comments violated Algerian law or intended harm to national unity. Legal experts suggest his sentence, half of what prosecutors initially sought, still reflects severe judicial overreach and may serve as political leverage amid Algeria’s diplomatic feud with France.

Human rights advocates warn that Algeria continues to misuse stringent anti-terrorism laws to silence critical voices, raising fears over the broader implications for freedom of speech. As international pressure mounts, speculation grows that Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune could grant Sansal a presidential pardon during an upcoming national holiday, attempting to defuse escalating tensions with Paris.

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Captive German Nurse Makes Desperate Plea After 7-Year Somalia Ordeal

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Sonja Nientiet urges swift German government intervention, warning her health is critically deteriorating after seven years in captivity.

In a new video released after seven agonizing years of captivity in Somalia, German nurse Sonja Nientiet has urgently pleaded for the German government to intensify efforts to secure her immediate release. Nientiet, who was abducted in Mogadishu in 2018 while working for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), expressed dire concerns about her rapidly deteriorating health.

“My health is deteriorating,” Nientiet says emotionally in the video, posted by an individual named Liibaan Osman. She urgently warns that “every day that passes makes the situation more critical,” emphasizing that her prolonged captivity could soon claim her life.

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Nientiet was kidnapped on May 2, 2018, after armed assailants—allegedly with inside help from a disgruntled security guard—stormed the ICRC office in Mogadishu. Despite intensive German intelligence efforts to track down her location and captors, who have demanded millions of dollars in ransom, the nurse remains captive and vulnerable.

The release of this disturbing footage has intensified pressure on the German government to secure Nientiet’s freedom. Yet, authorities have publicly maintained their longstanding policy of silence on hostage negotiations, declining direct comment.

Before her abduction, Nientiet had provided humanitarian assistance in Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighting her commitment to aid in conflict zones. The ICRC expressed renewed urgency following the video, stating deep concern for her safety and health.

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With her desperate plea now public, the stakes for Germany have dramatically increased, shifting the crisis into an urgent test of diplomatic resolve—one where each passing day could tragically mark the difference between life and death.

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WATCH: Somali, Ethiopian Migrants Escape from Alleged Captivity in Johannesburg

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Johannesburg suburb becomes epicenter of migrant abuse as over 50 Somali and Ethiopian nationals escape horrifying detention.

More than 50 migrants—primarily teenagers and young adults from Somalia and Ethiopia—broke free from an alleged detention house in Lombardy East on Wednesday morning, fleeing into the streets amid cries for help, partially clothed, and clutching scraps of food.

South African Police responded after neighbors and community patrols reported the disturbing sight: migrants screaming and shattering windows to escape a house described by witnesses as “filthy and unlivable.” Inside, reporters found makeshift bedding, buckets used as toilets, and evidence of appalling living conditions—raising immediate suspicion of human trafficking or forced labour, although police currently label it a potential violation of the Immigration Act.

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Adise Chuafmaa Jarse, a translator for the Ethiopian community, painted a horrifying picture: migrants beaten, starved, and stripped of dignity under false promises of employment. “No food and no clothes,” she recounted. “Sometimes people die—they must throw away.”

Police spokesperson Colonel Kaha said statements are still being collected from the 32 to 34 migrants currently in custody, including children as young as 13, but authorities have yet to confirm arrests. This troubling incident closely mirrors a similar January case in Lombardy East, highlighting an alarming trend that suggests the Johannesburg suburb is fast becoming a hub for migrant exploitation networks.

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As investigations intensify, this latest escape underscores a darker reality: migrant exploitation and potential human trafficking in South Africa remains rampant, deeply rooted, and urgently in need of confrontation.

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Kenya Breaks Silence, Recognizes Kosovo as Independent State

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Kenya becomes the first nation in nearly five years to recognize Kosovo’s independence, challenging Serbia-backed diplomatic blockade.

Kenya has officially recognized Kosovo as an independent state, becoming the first country to do so in nearly five years. The historic announcement, confirmed by Kosovo’s former president Behgjet Pacolli, follows intensive lobbying efforts and represents a crucial breakthrough amid longstanding international tensions.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, quickly gaining recognition from over 110 countries, including the United States and most European nations. Yet its path to full international acceptance has been repeatedly blocked by Serbia and powerful allies such as Russia and China, who have used their veto power at the United Nations to prevent Kosovo’s membership.

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Kenya’s decision, formalized by President William Ruto, breaks a diplomatic stalemate that has persisted since Israel’s recognition of Kosovo in September 2020. Pacolli, who personally shared the historic moment, described a tireless, decade-long campaign of “door-to-door” diplomacy aimed at ensuring Kosovo’s sovereignty and international legitimacy.

This new recognition signals not just a symbolic victory for Kosovo, but also a potential shift in the geopolitical landscape, challenging Serbia’s continued refusal to acknowledge Kosovo’s independence. For Kosovo, Kenya’s endorsement is more than just diplomatic—it reinforces the legitimacy of its quest for global recognition.

Kenya’s bold step forward may now encourage other nations to follow suit, potentially reigniting a wave of diplomatic recognitions after years of stagnation. Kosovo, strengthened by Kenya’s recognition, now stands poised to renew its campaign for greater international acceptance—a critical development at a time when global alignments are rapidly evolving.

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In breaking five years of silence, Kenya sends a powerful message: Kosovo’s sovereignty can no longer be ignored.

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Somalia’s Shame: National Fury After 8-Year-Old Forced into Marriage

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Outrage sweeps Somalia after an 8-year-old girl, abducted and married off, is rescued by Puntland authorities, sparking fierce debate on child marriage and legal reform.

Somalia is reeling in shock and anger after the harrowing discovery of an 8-year-old girl, missing for six months, found married to a significantly older man who defiantly claims religious legitimacy. The case, originating from Puntland’s commercial hub, Bosaso, has unleashed nationwide condemnation, exposing deep flaws in Somalia’s fragmented legal system and fueling demands for decisive action against child exploitation.

The girl vanished in September 2023, reportedly taken by a female relative under the pretense of visiting another family member. Months of desperate searching yielded nothing until a chilling video emerged online in March, showing the child reciting Qur’anic verses. Her family soon identified her in the footage, living in the town of Armo with a man identified only as Sheikh Mahamoud, who unabashedly insists the child was his wife, citing contested interpretations of Islamic jurisprudence.

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“I will not renounce the marriage,” Mahamoud provocatively declared, invoking religious tradition to defend an act widely condemned as pedophilia and abuse. His defiance highlights Somalia’s crisis: a clash between constitutional laws—which define childhood as under 18—and customary practices or religious interpretations that allow grave human rights violations to persist unchecked.

The rescue was dramatic. Puntland police were forced to breach the accused’s barricaded home in Carmo after failed mediation attempts. The child, now safely in protective custody, remains traumatized, while authorities investigate Mahamoud, who outrageously claims he was misled about her age.

The case isn’t isolated; human rights officials warn similar tragedies occur routinely, hidden behind a veil of religious or cultural justification. It underscores the urgency of passing the long-stalled child protection bill, which has been paralyzed by religious objections. Critics argue Somalia must now confront these exploitative traditions head-on, enforcing child protection laws unequivocally.

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Across social media, Somalis fiercely debate the incident, with most condemning it as an obscene abuse cloaked falsely in religion. Activists now demand concrete action—new legislation, tougher enforcement, and a clear moral stance—to protect Somalia’s children from systemic abuse masked by tradition.

Unless Somalia acts decisively, cases like these will remain hauntingly commonplace. For many, this case is a grim wake-up call: Protect children now—or forever bear the stain of complicity.

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