Sunday January 12, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) – A group of 97 members from both chambers of Somalia's federal parliament has warned businesspeople and individuals about acquiring public land in Mogadishu, accusing federal government leaders of auctioning off these lands for personal gain.
In a joint statement released on Saturday, the lawmakers condemned what they described as the misappropriation of public property by Villa Somalia, the office of the presidency.
"We, the Members of Parliament of both Houses of the Somali Parliament, fulfilling our constitutional duties, hereby submit that we stand for the protection of public property and warn those who facilitate Villa Somalia's theft of public land," the statement declared.
The warning marks the second time the lawmakers have voiced opposition to the alleged sale of public land. They accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of auctioning significant parcels of land previously designated for educational purposes.
"The President, who comes from the education community, has auctioned off land where many Somalis studied, including the National University, the Ilays School, and others. He seems indifferent to the plight of Somali youth," the statement added.
The allegations follow a similar warning last week from former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre, and Member of Parliament Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame. They accused the federal government of distributing public land to private families, auctioning it to businesspeople, or using it as political bribes.
Despite growing criticism, the federal government has yet to respond to these allegations.