Banadir Court Head Cautions Mogadishu District Leaders to Steer Clear of Meddling in Property Conflicts

Mogadishu (AX)—On Monday, a stern caution resounded from Salah Ali Mohamud, the presiding judge of the Banadir Regional Court, aimed squarely at the district leaders of Mogadishu. His message was clear: stay out of court matters pertaining to land and property squabbles. Only the judicial system, not local district bigwigs, has the clout to handle and enforce legal verdicts in these disputes.

Making his stance crystal clear, Mohamud put out a potent statement directed at the district officials who lately seemed to imply they might step into property rulings. “A district chair’s job description stops at keeping things tidy and maintaining peace, not playing judge,” Mohamud remarked. He stressed that meddling with matters alotted to the legal arena is beyond their jurisdiction.

Should these local leaders decide to dip their toes into judicial waters, they should gear up for incurring legal consequences, Mohamud cautioned. Overstepping their boundaries could easily invite sanctions or disciplinary actions for these officials.

Reiterating his point, “The court alone decides on matters between those laying claim and property possessors,” Mohamud asserted. “District administrations remain uninformed about specific rulings and lack the authorization to act on them. Any interference is a stark encroachment on judicial territory.”

The court in Banadir, according to Mohamud, bears the heavy responsibility of resolving contentious issues surrounding land ownership and property rights. Encircled by disputes of sky-high stakes, the scene is anything but simple. Such land conflicts have become more frequent and prickly, especially following the topple of Barre’s government in 1991. The ensuing chaos ushered in a spree of unregulated land grabs amid clans, elites, and returnees, heavily affecting vulnerable groups.

Lately, the regional court has had its hands full, inundated with a surge in property-related cases. These proceedings reveal a maze of complexities in property ownership within the area, often sparking a tug of war between judicial powers and administrative clout.

Despite a backdrop of past turmoil, the Banadir court strives to untangle the web of land entitlements, acting as the beacon of justice amid a sea of uncertainty. District leaders, on the other hand, must navigate their roles without breaching legal confines, ensuring they support rather than hinder judicial efforts.

Edited by: Ali Musa

alimusa@axadletimes.com

Axadle international–Monitoring