The delegation of traditional leaders was led by King (Boqor) Burhan Boqor Muse and included Sultan Said Mohamed Garaase, among others. The meeting highlighted the important role of traditional leadership in Somalia’s governance and peacebuilding processes.

According to a statement released by Villa Somalia, the President and the elders discussed key national issues, including the unity of the country, strengthening peace and stability, and enhancing cooperation between federal institutions and regional administrations.

The traditional leaders praised the President for supporting the formation of the North Eastern administration, describing it as a positive step toward inclusive governance and regional development.

The meeting was also attended by senior government officials, including the Minister of Interior, Ali Yusuf Ali (Hosh); the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Mohamed Farah Nuh; the Commander of the Somali Police Force, General Asad Diyaano; General Jimale Jama Takar; and politician Hassan Shire Abgaal.

This engagement comes at a critical time as the federal government continues efforts to consolidate peace, strengthen state-building initiatives, and foster dialogue with traditional leaders, who remain central to conflict resolution and social cohesion across Somalia.

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In a nationally televised address, President Mohamud said the elections represent a defining moment in the restoration of Somali governance and statehood.

He noted that the introduction of direct voting reflects both improved security conditions in the capital and a decisive shift away from provisional political arrangements toward democratic legitimacy.

“The election is a clear indication of the return of governance and the improved security situation in Mogadishu,” the President said. He urged all eligible citizens with voter cards to exercise their constitutional right without fear or hesitation, emphasizing that the power to choose local representatives now firmly rests with the people.

President Mohamud underscored that participation in the vote is essential to shaping the future of Mogadishu’s districts, describing voting not only as a civic duty but also as a symbol of Somalia’s resilience and steady progress after decades of conflict.

He added that the elections are about more than filling local administrative posts, stressing that they are central to strengthening the democratic foundations of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

The President assured the public that extensive security measures had been put in place to guarantee a peaceful and orderly voting process across the capital.

His remarks came as security preparations intensified, with thousands of police officers deployed throughout Mogadishu. The National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (NIEBC) had earlier confirmed that all logistical arrangements were in place.

The first one-person, one-vote local council elections in Mogadishu in more than 50 years began on Thursday morning at polling stations across the capital’s 16 districts.

The vote is taking place amid strong opposition from Somalia’s main opposition coalition, the Somali Salvation Forum, which has rejected the process as neither free nor fair and accused the government of engineering a one-sided, one-party election.

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The meeting came after MP Jacfar recently delivered a fiery speech in Dayniile, accusing authorities of illegally seizing land from local residents. He also urged Dayniile residents to resist the businessmen encroaching on their land.

According to reliable sources, businessman Gallad personally secured the appointment from Villa Somalia, and MP Jacfar was secretly brought in using the president’s motorcade.

For nearly two hours, the President and the MP failed to reach an understanding. Jacfar reportedly told the President:

“Mr. President, there is not much I need. I am not seeking a job for any Murusade person, nor for anyone from my sub-clan. I have never called your office for such favors.”

After a long exchange, President Hassan Sheikh allegedly said to the MP:

“Honorable MP, I gave that Dayniile land to this man (Gallad). Step aside from it, and tell me what you want.”

MP Jacfar insisted that he wanted nothing for himself. Instead, he requested that residents not be charged more than the price used to regularize land in the Soonakey neighborhood of Hodan—$8,000. He added that residents of Dayniile could only afford $5,000–$6,000, and he rejected the idea that businessman Gallad could sell each plot for $15,000–$20,000. He argued that, logically, Dayniile should not cost more than areas like Wadajir, Hodan, or Howlwadaag, where land is officially regularized at lower rates.

After two hours of stalled discussions, businessman Gallad — feeling financial pressure from the ongoing negotiations — joined the meeting. He reportedly told the President that MP Jacfar could be persuaded if he were offered the position of Director of Immigration in exchange for dropping his objections to the Dayniile land deal and the proposed pricing.

Although the President and his associate Gallad tried to win him over, sources say MP Jacfar firmly refused, arguing that he could not trade his political integrity for a deal that would displace or disgrace his clan during a transitional period. The meeting ended with a vague agreement to “meet again,” and the MP later traveled to Nairobi, Kenya.

Frustrated that he did not secure the deal he wanted, Gallad urged the President to find a quick solution, saying he had invested heavily in the land.

According to Gallad, his expenses included:

$4,000 per plot – Villa Somalia

$2,000 per plot – Muungaab

$1,000 per plot – Macallin Mahdi (operation fee)

$1,000 per plot – Demolition forces (soldiers’ planning)

The businessman now feels he is facing a major financial loss, as his plan to sell each plot for over $15,000 appears to have collapsed, with MP Jacfar blocking the scheme and insisting on much lower prices. Meanwhile, local residents see the dispute as a rare conflict that actually benefits them, as it prevents excessive pricing.

Gallad is currently seeking a solution that does not involve force. On the other hand, MP Jacfar and the Murusade community say they have prepared a response that does not involve begging.

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Speaking at the Second National Identity Conference, the President said he welcomes this development, noting that biometric registration will allow the government to fully identify anyone involved in terrorism.

“Let them take it—their fingerprints and faces will be known,” he remarked with a light laugh.

He added that the militants “are Somali citizens who have become criminals.”

President Hassan Sheikh emphasized that the national identification program is essential for enhancing security, promoting economic development, combating terrorism, preventing money laundering, and tackling other forms of organized crime. He further noted that the system will stop criminals from traveling abroad and posing a threat to other nations.

The President also issued a strong warning to anyone who provides services to individuals without a national ID, stating that they will be considered complicit in acts of terrorism or criminal activity.

He urged all Somali citizens to register and take advantage of this vital national initiative.

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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.

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