MOGADISHU, Somalia — Several people were reportedly killed and several others injured in clashes between government forces and residents protesting the demolition of homes in Mogadishu’s Yaqshid district, witnesses said.
Angry protesters burned tyres in the streets as tensions rose after authorities began demolishing homes in parts of the district, prompting residents to resist the operation.
Witnesses said government forces and residents exchanged fire during the confrontation, although details of the circumstances surrounding the deaths remained unclear.
The protesters were reportedly opposing the demolition of their homes and called for the authorities to halt the operation. Residents said they wanted a resolution to disputes over land and housing before any demolitions were carried out.
The clashes disrupted movement in parts of Yaqshid, with burning tyres blocking some roads and crowds gathering in the area.
The violence also sparked concern among residents in nearby neighbourhoods, as security forces were deployed amid the escalating tensions.
The reported deaths and injuries could not immediately be independently verified, and there was no immediate detailed statement from the federal government or Banadir regional authorities on the casualties.
The clashes come amid ongoing operations in Mogadishu linked to the clearance and redevelopment of land, including areas where authorities say homes or structures have been built on land earmarked for other purposes.
Disputes over land ownership and forced evictions have periodically triggered tensions in the Somali capital, where rapid population growth and years of displacement have placed pressure on housing and land.
Residents have repeatedly called for greater consultation and compensation when homes are demolished, while authorities have argued that some structures are illegally built or occupy public land.
The latest violence highlights the challenges facing authorities as they seek to enforce land and urban development policies in a city where large numbers of residents live in informal settlements.
As of Saturday, the security situation in Yaqshid remained tense, with residents and government forces facing off over the disputed demolitions.
Authorities have yet to provide a detailed account of the operation or announce whether an investigation will be launched into the reported deaths and injuries.
