Somalia Opposition calls for mega protests days before election over forced evictions

Somalia’s opposition leaders have called for mass protests in Mogadishu on Sunday over alleged forced evictions and demolitions targeting poor residents in the capital, escalating political tensions just days before the end of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term.

The planned demonstrations were announced on Wednesday by former Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who appeared alongside other opposition leaders and insisted the protests would be peaceful.

The opposition accuses President Mohamud’s administration of overseeing the demolition of informal settlements across Mogadishu over the past two years, allegedly displacing hundreds of thousands of vulnerable residents and worsening the humanitarian situation for internally displaced persons.

“The right to housing and the freedom to demonstrate are constitutional rights, not privileges that can be curtailed by the state,” Sheikh Sharif said.

Critics further claim that some of the land cleared during the demolitions was later sold illegally, accusations that have intensified criticism against the government.

“I call on President Hassan Sheikh to respect the constitutional right to housing. Every Somali has the right to shelter and security,” Sheikh Sharif added.

He also urged Somali youth to participate in the demonstrations without fear.

Human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have previously criticised forced evictions in Mogadishu, saying thousands of displaced families fleeing drought and conflict have been removed without notice or alternative shelter.

On Thursday, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre dismissed the planned protests as “a miscalculated political move,” warning that the demonstrations could undermine security and stability in the capital.

The premier also accused the organisers of serving foreign interests, claiming the same leaders had declined invitations for talks aimed at resolving the ongoing political dispute.

If held, the protests would mark one of the largest public opposition demonstrations seen in Mogadishu in recent years.

The latest standoff comes amid heightened political uncertainty in Somalia, with disagreements emerging over the country’s electoral roadmap as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s term nears its end.

Authorities in the Banadir regional administration and the federal police had not issued an official response to the planned protests by Thursday evening.