By Horn Africa News
Mogadishu – In a surprise pre-dawn operation, Somali government forces on Tuesday demolished Mogadishu’s bustling Siinaay Market, triggering widespread outrage among traders and residents.
Witnesses reported that the operation began in the early hours of the morning, with heavily guarded bulldozers and other machinery rolling into the area. All access roads leading to the market were reportedly sealed off overnight, barring entry to traders and the public.
“It was clearly a well-coordinated operation,” said Ahmed Molalim Omar, a local observer. “There were no opposition figures present, and we are already hearing that the land is being earmarked for private sale.”
In a related development, security forces reportedly surrounded the home of Member of Parliament Yasin Farey, a vocal critic of the demolition. Sources close to the matter say he was warned to stop his public objections to the government’s actions.
Vendors at Siinaay Market expressed shock and frustration, claiming they were not given prior notice or offered alternative locations.
“We were completely blindsided,” one vendor told Horn Africa News. “Our livelihoods were destroyed overnight with no explanation or plan for resettlement.”
The government, led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has faced growing criticism for allegedly selling off public land to private investors. Local elders and civil society figures have condemned the demolition, calling it part of a broader pattern of land dispossession.
“This is a national tragedy and a blatant land grab,” said one community elder. “It’s a shameful act that shows complete disregard for the Somali people.”
As the dust settles in Siinaay, questions are mounting over the government’s handling of public assets, with citizens demanding accountability and transparency in land management.
