16 June 2023, Mogadishu | By Jama
Residents of Shibis district in Mogadishu are living a nightmare following an abrupt eviction exercise led by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). Families, some of whom have called the government-owned land home for over 30 years, were taken by surprise when their residences were razed to make way for undisclosed plans.
The shock and dismay among the civilians was palpable, as they narrated the ordeal of finding NISA forces and bulldozers at their doorstep without prior notice. Many expressed their confusion and disappointment over the government’s sudden decision to reclaim the land without giving them ample time to relocate or salvage their belongings.
An anonymous resident told us, “While we understand that the land we’ve been living on belongs to the government, it would have been just and fair to receive written notice. This would have allowed us to prepare and preserve our belongings before the bulldozers came in.”
This sentiment was echoed by another local who declined to provide his name. He raised suspicions over the government’s future plans for the land. “History has shown us that after such evictions, these lands often fall into the hands of private business people or are sold off,” he said, pointing to previous instances where public lands were disposed of in a similar manner.
The evicted land lies strategically nestled between Haji Farah road and Manapolio/Jubba road, starting from the point opposite School Mogadishu and stretching up to the vicinity of the former Saqawidin School. As the dust settles, questions still linger about the future use of this land and the fate of its former occupants.
This unexpected mass eviction, with its apparent lack of due process, has set a worrying precedent for other residents living on government land in Mogadishu. As the city grapples with the aftermath of this drastic action, the need for transparent land governance policies has never been more pronounced.
