MOGADISHU, (HAN) – Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has issued a strongly worded statement condemning recent abuses against displaced civilians, warning that such actions risk eroding public trust in the government and further destabilizing the country.
The President’s remarks followed disturbing reports and videos showing elderly Somalis being mistreated during forced evictions in the Siinay market area of Mogadishu. The footage, which circulated widely on local media, showed elderly men and women being beaten and humiliated as crowds looked on—an incident that drew widespread outrage across the nation.
“The abuse and torture inflicted upon elderly citizens who were already displaced is a violation that erodes public trust in government,” President Farmaajo said. “The images of Somali fathers and mothers being brutally assaulted in public view are a dark stain and a great injustice. I condemn this cruelty in the strongest possible terms.”
Farmaajo also directed a stern warning to members of Somalia’s security institutions—including both soldiers and senior officers—urging them to refrain from recurring human rights violations, particularly against vulnerable groups such as displaced families. He stressed that the protection of civilians must remain central to the country’s security operations.
In his statement, the President called on ordinary Somalis to stand in solidarity with displaced communities and urged government agencies to uphold the dignity and constitutional rights of every citizen. He emphasized that violations of human rights against marginalized groups undermine Somalia’s state-building process and threaten to deepen mistrust between the government and its people.
The President’s condemnation follows yesterday’s in violent clashes at the Wartanabada District Police Station, where opposition-aligned fighters and clan militias clashed with government forces earlier this week. The twin developments—the police station confrontation and the abuse of displaced civilians—have heightened concerns about Somalia’s fragile political and security environment.
Analysts say that ongoing factional violence, coupled with repeated allegations of misconduct by security forces, underscores the urgent need for reform and accountability within Somalia’s institutions. Without decisive action, they warn, the country’s efforts toward reconciliation and stability could face further setbacks.
