Mogadishu (AX) — A protest over the demolition of homes in Mogadishu’s Tokiyo neighborhood turned deadly on Sunday, with at least one person killed and nearly 10 others reportedly injured in clashes between government forces and civilians.
The confrontation followed notices ordering residents to vacate land the government says is state-owned.
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Protesters set tires ablaze in Mogadishu’s Yaqshid district, where witnesses said government forces opened fire during demonstrations against the demolitions.
Images shared on social media appeared to show injured young men receiving treatment at hospitals in Mogadishu.
Authorities had not immediately released official figures for the number of deaths or injuries.
Burning tires blocked several roads in Yaqshid, disrupting traffic and heightening fear among residents in nearby neighborhoods as the clashes unfolded.
The violence comes as Mogadishu presses ahead with reconstruction and redevelopment projects, including efforts by authorities to clear land earmarked for public development.
Residents affected by demolitions in several neighborhoods, however, say they hold legal documents establishing ownership of their homes. Others have told the media that the disputed land is not government property. Opposition groups have separately accused the government of illegally auctioning public land to businesspeople.
The Banadir regional administration and the federal government had not immediately provided detailed accounts of Sunday’s clashes, the damage caused or who was responsible for the reported deaths and injuries.
