MOGADISHU — Former Somali Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments Omar Ali Rooble accused federal security forces of raiding and demolishing parts of his family home in Mogadishu late Monday, alleging the operation was a politically motivated land grab tied to senior government figures, including President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
In a statement released Tuesday, Rooble said troops accompanied by demolition equipment arrived in a convoy of military vehicles and moved to seize a property he maintains legally belongs to his family. “Last night, we were attacked by nine vehicles loaded with armed soldiers and demolition trucks,” he said. “They began demolishing my house from one side to the other. When I confronted them, I was told that my land was being taken, despite the fact that I hold legal documents proving ownership.”
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Rooble, who served in a previous federal cabinet, said the operation took place without a court order and involved both military police and regular army units. He described the incident as part of a pattern, claiming it was the third time property belonging to him had been demolished. “They attacked my home without any judicial authorization,” he said.
The former minister directly accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of orchestrating the seizure for political and financial purposes, alleging that a sitting lawmaker, Mohamed Ibrahim Ali, known as Mohamed Cajib, led the raid. Rooble said the lawmaker told him the land had been purchased from the president, claiming payments of $65,000 per plot for a total of about $1 million. Rooble provided no documentary evidence to substantiate the allegation, and Axadle Times could not independently verify the claim.
Federal authorities, including the presidency and security services, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. As of Tuesday evening, no official statement had been issued addressing the reported raid or Rooble’s allegations, and it was not clear whether the action at the site was an authorized state operation or a dispute involving individuals acting under color of authority.
Land and property disputes have long fueled tension in Mogadishu, where years of conflict, displacement and weak land registries collide with rapid urban development and rising property values. Human rights groups have repeatedly documented cases of forced evictions and demolitions conducted without due process, warning that irregular seizures can traumatize families, deepen social grievances and undermine public trust in state institutions. Property records, often destroyed or contested after decades of upheaval, make ownership disputes especially fraught.
Rooble appealed to Somalia’s bicameral parliament, the judiciary, national human rights institutions, religious leaders and the public to intervene. “I appeal urgently to prevent land grabbing, forced displacement and attacks on civilian families in Mogadishu,” he said, calling for an immediate halt to what he described as unlawful displacement and abuse of power.
The alleged raid comes amid broader political strain as Somalia navigates security operations against al-Shabab, federal-state tensions and reforms meant to strengthen rule of law. Property cases can be politically charged, pitting officials and business interests against families who say they lack the means to defend their titles in court or resist coercion by armed actors.
Rooble’s claims, if proven, would raise questions about the use of state resources in private disputes and the integrity of land administration in the capital. In the absence of official comment or court filings, however, the incident remains an allegation. Rights advocates and legal experts routinely urge authorities to ensure that demolitions and seizures only proceed on the basis of clear judicial orders and transparent due process, and to hold violators accountable.
As of Tuesday, the federal government had not confirmed details of the operation at Rooble’s residence or addressed his accusations against the president and the lawmaker he named.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
