Mogadishu’s Displaced Community Under Siege

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AXADLE) – As dawn broke on Saturday, an armed police unit led by Commander Yasin Ganey from Mogadishu’s Galbeed Police Station initiated a raid that shook the lives of over 2,000 internally displaced people. These families have called the former Pharmaceutical Factory (Ex-Warshadda Daawada) along the Afgooye-Mogadishu road home for decades.

The scene was tense as officers, weapons in hand, surrounded the area, urging residents to vacate immediately. “The armed men began spraying red paint on our makeshift houses. They were armed. We were shocked—my children, who were asleep, woke up and started crying,” shared Fadumo, a disabled resident who has faced challenges since an accident left her paralyzed.

The operation, reportedly orchestrated under the orders of Banadir Regional Police Commissioner Mahdi Omar Moalim—also known as “Macallin Mahdi”—unfolded with an unsettling familiarity. Ganey and Mahdi, once associated with the militant group Al-Shabaab, are now key figures within Somalia’s federal police. This connection raises difficult questions about the complex layers of past affiliations and current responsibilities.

A looming threat echoed through the camp as residents, including vulnerable women, children, and the elderly, were given a stark ultimatum. “They gave us an ultimatum. If we don’t leave, they said they would flatten our homes,” said Sultan Mahamud Adan, speaking for the affected families. The former pharmaceutical site, once a testament to the past regime’s ambitions, has paradoxically become a refuge for families escaping conflict.

Health Ministry Denies Involvement Amid Allegations of Corruption

Federal Health Minister Dr. Ali Haji Adam stated unequivocally that his ministry was not involved in any plans to evict the residents from the compound. “My ministry was not informed any plans to evict the people or anything related to the former factory of the Warshadda Daawada,” he declared.

Allegations have surfaced suggesting that a businessman with links to Al-Shabaab secured the land through bribery, implicating high-profile figures, including Banaadir Regional Court Chairman Salah Ali Mohamud, known as Salah Dabaan. His familial ties to Al-Shabaab’s shadow courts only add to the intricate web of intrigue.

This unnamed businessman allegedly plans to convert the land into a private vehicle garage—a stark contrast to its current role as a shelter. A police source confirmed to Kaab TV that bribes have indeed paved the way for this controversial eviction.

However, Commander Yasin Ganey remains tight-lipped, citing orders from above as the reason behind his involvement. For the families facing displacement, the absence of relocation support or compensation adds layers of uncertainty to their precarious situation. Women in particular, such as Halimo Mahmoud, voiced their profound worries: “We don’t know where to go. We have children and elderly who can’t walk. We have nothing.”

Continuing Pattern of Forced Evictions

The events on Saturday are not isolated. In August 2023, a similar scene unfolded when armed police and national intelligence officers evicted families from land once held by the former Ministry of Veterinary, underscoring a disturbing trend. These evictions often end in the favor of those with connections to the political elite.

The April incident at another former factory, initiated under Macallin Mahdi’s orders, is yet another testament to this trend. Local journalists attempting to cover these events faced threats, with police reportedly deleting footage to control the narrative.

The actions of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration have faced increasing scrutiny. Accusations of corruption and land grabs have marred his leadership, and critics argue that these evictions serve the interests of those within his circle.

Rights advocates describe a systematic campaign driven by profit and elite gain—frequently executed by national intelligence and police. “Internally displaced people usually live in privately owned settlements without land tenure documents. This has resulted in a number of forced evictions, which remain a critical protection concern,” noted Abdukadir Mohamed of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

With over 2.6 million individuals living in camps for internally displaced persons in Somalia, the plight of these communities reflects a broader struggle for basic rights and survival. As mass migrations bring more people to cities, the challenge of securing livelihoods and essentials persists.