By Horn Africa News
Mogadishu – The Somali public and several opposition politicians have sharply criticized the administration of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud over the reported sale of key public buildings, including the former Ministry of Health headquarters, Laansareeti Hospital, and other historic structures in the capital, Mogadishu.
The move has sparked a heated debate about the government’s respect for public service institutions and the preservation of national heritage. Among the most vocal critics is MP Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame.
Opposition figure Abdirahman Abdishakur posted a scathing critique on his Facebook page, condemning the government’s actions and describing the sale of health facilities as a sign of moral failure and irresponsibility — even worse, he argued, than the conduct of clan militias during Somalia’s civil war.
“During the darkest times of this country, when conflict was raging on all sides, clan militias still respected health facilities. The sale of the Ministry of Health, Laansareeti Hospital, and other historical buildings proves that President Hassan Sheikh’s administration lacks the ethics, morality, and respect even the militias had,” said Abdirahman Abdishakur.
Laansareeti Hospital and the other reportedly sold facilities have long served as symbols of public health service and national resilience — especially during Somalia’s years of collapse and conflict.
The Somali government has previously stated that it needed former state properties for the provision of public services. However, many citizens have expressed deep concern that, to date, there is no evidence showing that the buildings cleared of residents have been repurposed for any public service delivery.
