Armed men are forcing IDPs to evacuate their makeshift houses in government-owned buildings and land in Mogadishu. The IDPs have been living in camps in Somalia’s former Ministry of Public Works and Housing, the former campus of Gaheyr University, and former US embassy land for up to 20 years.
Radio Ergo’s local reporter visited the area to talk to IDPs and the militia leaders, but he was threatened and told to get out by the gunmen. According to some of the displace who have moved to Elasha Biyaha, about 20 kms southwest of Mogadishu, the gunmen were hired by people claiming ownership of the government buildings.
Sharifo Abukar Abdi, a mother of four children, had lived for years in a makeshift house in Siliga camp, in the old US Embassy compound. She was forced out by the gunmen and now lives in Maslah camp, on the road between the capital and Afgoye district. “They came and ordered us to leave the place immediately because the people who own it want it need the land,” Abdi told Radio Ergo. “It is the third time I have been forced out of my house. They forced me twice before to move from one part of Siliga camp and rebuild my house in another,” she added.
Another displaced mother, who wants to be identified only as Nafiso, said the land will be sold to business people who plan to build houses there. “All they want is money and they are selling it to other people but we are struggling to get food. Some of us were asked to pay 500 dollars. We can’t get that money,” Nafiso told Radio Ergo’s reporter.
The spokesman of Mogadishu’s local administration, Mohamed Yusuf, said he was not aware of any armed men forcing people to evacuate government buildings. He urged IDPs to record their complains at the local administration’s office. “No-one can sell government buildings and lands and IDPs can’t be forced to evacuate buildings without the government’s knowledge. Therefore, if there are such events, the IDPs should report to our office,” Yusuf told Radio Ergo in Mogadishu.
However, the IDPs said they were afraid of complaining about the armed men who threatened and intimated them. “We are not putting ourselves at risk. if we complain, they can easily kill us! So we should just follow their orders and leave the place so as to be safe,” Abdi said.
Muhyadin Ahmed Roble
