Bakaara market traders protest alleged government plan to sell market land
The demonstrators blocked major roads leading into the sprawling market, denouncing what they described as an impending eviction that could wipe out their livelihoods. Many traders said the plan amounts to transferring public commercial space to private investors...
Thursday March 26, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — Tensions flared at Mogadishu’s Bakaara Market on Wednesday as hundreds of traders poured into the streets, accusing Somalia’s federal government of preparing to sell part of the market’s land to wealthy businessmen they say have close ties to those in power.
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The demonstrators blocked major roads leading into the sprawling market, denouncing what they described as an impending eviction that could wipe out their livelihoods. Many traders said the plan amounts to transferring public commercial space to private investors at the expense of long-established businesses.
During the demonstration, traders called on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to intervene and halt any eviction measures.
“We cannot accept a private group buying this market from the government,” said one female trader, insisting she would stay on the land even if authorities move to displace vendors. Young traders voiced similar warnings, saying they would resist any attempt to force them from their stalls and storefronts.
Another vendor, a mother who has traded at Bakaara Market for 28 years, said the prospect of losing her income after nearly three decades of work was unacceptable.
Traders stressed that Bakaara is more than a marketplace, calling it an economic lifeline for families across the capital. They appealed to the government to safeguard their businesses and said the dispute should be handled without political interference.
Founded in the 1970s, Bakaara Market has grown into Somalia’s largest wholesale and retail hub, employing thousands and sustaining livelihoods in Mogadishu and far beyond. Any interruption to day-to-day trading, vendors warned, would ripple through supply chains and household incomes.
Wednesday’s protest unfolds as the Somali government continues land reclamation campaigns, particularly in Mogadishu, where authorities have sought to repossess public property that has been informally occupied, often citing development projects. Officials say such efforts are intended to restore public assets and modernize the city’s infrastructure, typically with advance notice and, in some cases, alternative resettlement arrangements.
Critics, including opposition groups and affected communities, have repeatedly alleged that public plots and market land are being sold to private investors through opaque processes. Past eviction drives in the capital have sparked confrontations between residents and security forces, underscoring how volatile land disputes remain in Somalia’s fragile urban setting.
The federal government has not released an official statement on the claims involving Bakaara Market. Traders said the president had previously promised the market would remain untouched and preserved in its current form.
