In a rare and unified move, Somalia’s three living former presidents Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Abdiqasim Salad Hassan, and Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo have issued a joint statement sharply criticizing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration over what they describe as illegal land sales and mismanagement of public assets.
The former leaders allege that the government has been transferring public land without proper legal procedures or oversight. According to their statement, many of these transactions were carried out without declaring the land as surplus, bypassed the National Contracts Agency, and failed to channel the proceeds into the national treasury.
The trio warned that these actions are fueling forced evictions, particularly in Mogadishu’s Tarabunka area, where recent clashes between rival security forces have highlighted growing tensions. They described the evictions as a dangerous example of government overreach, disrupting vulnerable communities and eroding public confidence.
Their letter also called on Somali citizens and businesses to refrain from engaging in the purchase or support of properties acquired through these questionable deals, labeling them as illegitimate and fraught with legal risk.
Somalia’s civil society groups and political commentators have welcomed the joint statement, viewing it as a bold appeal for transparency and responsible governance. This marks the first time all three surviving former presidents have publicly aligned in opposition to the sitting government an indication of mounting institutional concern over land governance and its impact on Somalia’s fragile political landscape.
