Yarow Isaaq Iman, 52, who fled to the camp in 2011, described the situation as “hopeless,” saying displaced families are stuck in dire poverty with no access to employment or basic services.

“There are no jobs, no development — the general situation is very bad,” Yarow told Kaab TV.

The crisis in Kabaase is part of a broader displacement emergency across Somalia.

According to the United Nations, more than 3.8 million people are currently displaced within the country, driven by conflict, drought, and insecurity.

Residents say conditions in the camp have deteriorated further following recent political tensions and international funding cuts.

Magaalo Aadan Ali, 38, said the Federal Government’s decision to suspend domestic flights to Doolow—amid a dispute with the Jubaland administration—has deepened the isolation of vulnerable communities.

“The situation worsened after the U.S. government cut humanitarian aid, particularly assistance from USAID,” said Magaalo. “We are in urgent need of help. Young people here have no income or opportunities.”

Ali Ibrahim Ahmed, 43, who fled from the Bakool region in 2016, said he has not received any aid in four years.

“When the U.S. pulled its support, food shortages became even more severe,” he said.

Aid workers and community leaders report growing concerns over malnutrition, especially among children.

Yarow noted that many school-aged children have been forced to drop out due to hunger.

“Even children who used to attend school have returned home — they’re too hungry to continue learning. There’s no food at all,” he said.

Compounding the crisis is the deteriorating security situation around Doolow.

Al-Shabaab militants maintain a presence in surrounding areas, restricting access and undermining the safety of civilians.

With hope diminishing, some displaced families have begun making the risky journey across the border into Ethiopia, seeking refuge in camps like Melkadida.

The residents of Kabaase are now calling on both the Somali government and the international community to restore aid flows and establish long-term resettlement and recovery plans.

“We don’t just need emergency food,” said Magaalo. “We need lasting solutions — a future.”

The post Dire Conditions Grip Displacement Camp in Southern Somalia Amid Aid Cuts and Insecurity appeared first on Kaab TV.

In a letter addressed to the ambassadors of the United Kingdom, United States, Turkey, Norway, and other international partners in Somalia, community leaders detailed a series of abuses allegedly committed by Somali police officials.

The letter accuses authorities of enabling forced displacement, extortion, and harassment of Degodia residents.

“Our concerns are not only about the abuse of power,” the letter reads, “but also about systemic marginalization and clan-based discrimination, particularly targeting the Dagoodiye community—civilians who legally reside on government-allocated land but lack political protection or representation.”

Police Officials Named in the Complaint

The letter specifically names two senior police officials:

• Mahdi Omar Muumin (also known as Moalim Mahdi), the Banadir Regional Police Commissioner, is a former Al-Shabaab operative turned senior police leader. He is accused of overseeing forced evictions and land seizures.
• Mrs. Rahmo Sandheer, Commander of the Xamar Jajab Police Station, is alleged to have ties to a former militia group responsible for violence in the 1990s. Community members accuse her of participating in harassment and threats against Degodia residents.

Community leaders claim multiple formal complaints have been filed with Somali authorities—including the offices of the President, Prime Minister, Auditor General, and the judiciary—yet “no effective response has been delivered to date.”

In their letter, the Degodia community urged the international community to take immediate and concrete actions:

1. Suspend all international support—financial, training, and logistical—to police units involved until independent investigations are completed.
2. Apply international accountability mechanisms such as sanctions and travel bans on individuals responsible for abuses.
3. Recognize the ongoing discrimination and advocate for the legal rights and protection of the Dagoodiye within Somalia’s state institutions.

“Your voices, influence, and support for justice and human rights are crucial at this time,” the community wrote. “We trust in your commitment to upholding human dignity and the rule of law in Somalia.”

Historical Marginalization of the Degodia

The Degodia community—an ethnic group found in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia—has historically faced exclusion and persecution.

In Kenya, one of the most horrific atrocities against the Degodia occurred during the Wagalla massacre in February 1984, when hundreds—possibly thousands—were executed by government forces on an airstrip in Wajir, North Eastern Kenya.

In Somalia, members of the Degodia have long been displaced, living in IDP camps or forced out of their ancestral land by dominant clans.

Multiple sources have accused President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his close allies—including family members—of orchestrating mass land seizures and evictions in Mogadishu.

Once seized, these public lands are often handed over to politically connected businessmen and elites, without transparency or legal process.

In one high-profile case, a businessman with ties to the president reportedly exhumed graves at a Mogadishu cemetery to claim the land, sparking public outrage. The president’s family has also been linked to land expropriation in the Hamarweyne district after a violent attack on a popular restaurant.

Mogadishu’s power structures remain heavily influenced by the armed and politically dominant Hawiye clan, especially sub-clans such as Habargidir. This dominance has led to the marginalization of smaller clans, particularly in urban areas.

Land disputes and evictions—often carried out under the guise of urban renewal or security operations—continue to affect thousands.

Vulnerable populations, especially minority clans and IDPs, are frequently displaced with little to no legal recourse.

In 2021 alone, more than 185,000 people were displaced across Somalia due to conflict and insecurity—many of them in Mogadishu. Once evicted, families are forced into overcrowded camps with poor access to water, health services, and protection.

Editor’s Note: The Somali federal government has not publicly responded to these latest accusations. Requests for comment from the Banadir Regional Police Command and the Office of the President remain unanswered at the time of publication.

The post Degodia Community Cries Out: Land Theft, Police Abuse, and Clan Discrimination in Mogadishu appeared first on Kaab TV.