MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – The Somali militant group Al-Shabaab has issued a warning against public land auctions and evictions in Mogadishu, delivering the message at the start of Ramadan.
An audio message circulated on social media platforms featured Ahmed Diriye, also known as Abu Ubaidah, the emir of Al-Shabaab.
In the message, Abu Ubaidah stated that his group was closely monitoring the evictions and land sales in Mogadishu and warned those involved.
“We warn those responsible for these evictions and the auctioning of public lands,” Abu Ubaidah declared, adding that Al-Shabaab would target anyone engaged in such activities.
“We know those involved and those who brokered these deals. They are only waiting for their time,” he added.
The militant leader claimed that Al-Shabaab had compiled its own registry of auctioned lands and the individuals who had been evicted.
Forced evictions resulting from the illegal sale of public lands have been a persistent issue in Mogadishu, disproportionately affecting local communities.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, along with his family and allies such as the Premier Bank, has been implicated in these evictions.
Threats Against the Mogadishu Government
Abu Ubaidah, whose whereabouts remain unknown and who is being pursued by foreign counterterrorism agencies, also reiterated his group’s objective to topple the Somali government.
“With Allah’s will, I bring good news to the Somali people, especially those in Mogadishu, that they will soon overcome the uncertainty surrounding their future,” he stated.
He further claimed that an Islamic system would soon be established, which, according to him, would restore all confiscated lands and properties to their rightful owners.
The message comes amid an increase in Al-Shabaab attacks across central and southern Somalia.
The group has seized key rural areas in the Middle Shabelle and Hiiraan regions in recent weeks.
On Thursday, Al-Shabaab briefly captured a military base in Balcad, a town just 30 km from Mogadishu, before retreating.