MOGADISHU — Somalia’s main opposition coalition, the Somali Salvation Forum, on Tuesday condemned what it called unlawful arrests and forced evictions by federal security forces in the Dab-dhamiiska section of Mogadishu’s Wadajir district, warning the operation reflects a mounting pattern of rights violations tied to government land-reclamation drives across the capital.
In a statement, the coalition said it received credible reports that residents were removed from their homes and endured severe hardship during the operation. The Forum described the actions as violations that “crippled their lives and fundamental rights,” arguing they contravene the Provisional Federal Constitution and core principles of good governance. It called the operation reprehensible and demanded accountability for those responsible.
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The Forum urged security agencies and federal authorities to open a transparent investigation and return confiscated homes and property to their owners. It also pressed national leaders to end the use of force in civilian areas and to uphold their responsibility to safeguard citizens’ rights as eviction-related confrontations increase in Mogadishu.
Tuesday’s allegations in Wadajir follow a string of disputed land and property operations. In October, the coalition denounced the arrest of Himilo TV journalist Khadar Abdirahim and several rights advocates who were documenting the displacement of residents from the Sinai Market area. The Forum said those arrests violated constitutional protections for free expression, property rights and citizen safety.
Similar claims surfaced in late November, when the group condemned what it described as the forced displacement of families in Yaqshiid district and the killing of Abdullahi Abdi Raage, a longtime resident of Buulo-Geesaale. According to the Forum, Raage was shot while protesting ongoing evictions. A Himilo Media photographer and a Mogadishu municipal staff member were also reportedly detained during that operation.
Opposition leaders have repeatedly accused the federal government of mishandling public land and using security forces to enforce displacements. In a broader statement earlier this year, the Forum accused the administration of PresidentHassan Sheikh Mohamudof selling public land while neglecting the fight against terrorist groups. During a subsequent two-day meeting in Mogadishu, opposition figures argued that land policy and redevelopment initiatives have lacked transparency and left vulnerable families at risk.
The coalition has signaled plans to escalate its response through the courts. In recent months, Forum leadership and allied lawmakers announced they would file lawsuits in Somali courts and international jurisdictions, accusing senior officials of constitutional violations, corruption and human rights abuses. They cite alleged unlawful amendments to the 2012 constitution, failure to organize overdue state elections and the forced eviction of low-income families as evidence of a broader governance crisis.
Federal officials have previously said they are reclaiming public land that was unlawfully sold or repurposed and have defended operations as necessary to restore state control over strategic areas. Critics counter that procedures are unclear and enforcement has been heavy-handed, leading to abusive practices and avoidable clashes in civilian neighborhoods.
As of Tuesday, the government had not publicly commented on the Wadajir incident or the latest allegations from opposition figures. Rights groups and media outlets have urged authorities to release clear guidelines for land reclamation, establish independent oversight and ensure due process before any eviction or demolition is carried out.
The Somali Salvation Forum has recently aligned withPuntland Stateand Jubaland leaders through the formation of the Somali Future Council, a political bloc that says it aims to defend constitutional order and press for accountability ahead of the 2026 electoral transition. The coalition warned that continued evictions and property disputes risk eroding public trust and destabilizing already fragile efforts to strengthen federal institutions in the capital and beyond.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
