Mogadishu – (WDN) – In the early hours of Thursday morning, Somali government forces launched a sudden and sweeping demolition operation at the historic Bilaajo-Carab Market in Shibis District, reducing decades of livelihood and legacy to rubble within hours.

This is yet another episode in a troubling pattern since President Hassan Sheikh returned to power. His administration has increasingly focused on the seizure and sale of public property, through corrupt and unlawful transactions with private individuals.

Heavy machinery rumbled through the narrow alleys of the market as bulldozers tore down stalls that had stood for nearly a century a place where generations of families had earned their living, and where the scent of spices and the hum of trade once defined everyday life.

Before the operation began, government troops sealed off all roads leading to the market, cutting off access as stunned traders and bystanders looked on helplessly. Within moments, the demolition began — swift, unrelenting, and final.

The government had recently ordered traders to vacate the area, claiming the land was needed for undisclosed development plans. No clear relocation strategy was provided, and the demolition went ahead despite passionate protests from local residents and elders who pleaded for the market to be spared.

“We are not just losing our businesses, we are losing our history,” said one elder who watched from a nearby street, his voice heavy with grief. “This market has been here for over 70 years. My father traded here, and so did I. Where are we supposed to go now?”

Only days earlier, dozens of market vendors had staged a peaceful protest, accusing the government of attempting to seize the land by force. Their calls for dialogue were left unanswered.

“They should have negotiated with us, not destroyed our lives,” said a woman who had run a small tea stall at the market for 25 years. “This is how we fed our children. Today, I have nothing left.”

Although government officials have yet to publicly disclose what plans are in store for the now-demolished site, many locals fear it will be handed over to private developers — a growing trend in Mogadishu that has left small-scale traders feeling increasingly displaced and voiceless.

As dust settles over the ruins of Bilaajo-Carab, so too does a deep sense of loss. For many, it wasn’t just a market — it was a home, a history, and a heartbeat of the community. And now, all that remains are silence and rubble.

Most recently, President Hassan has also ordered the forced eviction of residents and vendors from Sinai Market, handing the land over to individuals who had illegally sold it to him. The incident has heightened public concern over the systematic misuse of state assets for personal and political gain.

WardheerNews