Somali National University Warns Against Illegal Demolition of Mogadishu Property

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali National University has accused authorities of illegally demolishing parts of its land in Mogadishu’s Hodan district and says it is taking legal action to stop any further seizures and reclassification of its property.

In a statement issued Thursday, the state university said demolitions in the Banadir region have affected facilities used for student services as well as the residence of the university’s chairperson. The administration said no competent authority had granted permission for the work.

“The demolition of the university’s land, including student facilities and the chairman’s house, is illegal,” the statement said.

The university added that it has begun “all necessary legal measures” to protect its property and prevent what it described as attempts to register or use the land under names unrelated to the institution. It specifically cited efforts to label parcels as “party houses” or “socialist centers,” warning that such designations have no connection to the university and would be challenged in court.

University officials also urged the public not to engage in commercial activity linked to the disputed land, cautioning residents and businesses to avoid transactions they said could expose them to liability tied to illegal practices. The administration did not specify the total area affected or identify the entities responsible for the demolitions.

The dispute intensifies a broader struggle over public land in Mogadishu. Over the past two years, the capital has seen a wave of demolitions, forced evictions and the repurposing of state-owned sites as part of urban redevelopment and infrastructure projects. That campaign has drawn criticism from opposition politicians, civil society groups and some former officials, who accuse authorities of sidestepping due process, failing to provide adequate compensation and offering little transparency on ownership or legal mandates.

Federal and Banadir regional authorities have defended the demolitions as necessary to reclaim public land, safeguard right-of-way for roads and utilities, and improve urban planning in a congested city. But as disputes over ownership and the legality of specific demolitions multiply, so have political and legal challenges—particularly when state institutions, schools or health facilities are involved.

Somali National University’s claims underscore the stakes of that tension. The campus in Hodan district is a key education hub in the capital; any loss of buildings or student services could disrupt learning and compound space constraints for a public institution already under strain. The university’s vow to pursue legal remedies also tests how land disputes involving government-linked entities will be handled in court, amid wider calls for clearer land registries and stronger enforcement of property rights.

It was not immediately clear which office authorized the work on the Hodan parcels or whether a formal notice had been issued prior to demolition. No immediate comment was available from Banadir regional authorities regarding the university’s allegations.

The university did not say when it expects a court to hear its case or what interim measures, if any, it is seeking to halt further demolition. Its statement, however, signals an intent to contest both the physical clearing of structures and any administrative moves to reclassify the land, positioning the case as a potential bellwether for how Mogadishu’s urban renewal collides with institutional property claims.

As construction pressures intensify across the capital, land governance—and the trust it requires—has become a flashpoint. The university’s warning to steer clear of commercial dealings on the contested plots underscores the legal uncertainty now attached to parts of Hodan district, where one of the country’s most visible public institutions says its rights are at risk.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.