Mogadishu, (WDN)— What began as a disputed land operation has turned into another deadly flashpoint in Mogadishu, as government forces shot and killed at least three civilians and wounded eight others in Heliwaa District on Friday, according to local sources and eyewitness accounts.
Residents say the violence is part of an aggressive land seizure campaign that escalated at the start of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s second term — a campaign critics describe as systematic displacement disguised as state land recovery.
The confrontation erupted in the Gumacoole neighborhood of Heliwaa, where armed security units reportedly moved to evict residents from land authorities claim belongs to the government. Locals, however, insist they possess legal documentation proving private ownership.
By midday, the dispute had turned violent.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as gunfire rang out across residential streets. Graphic images circulated widely on social media, showing wounded civilians and lifeless bodies sprawled in the neighborhood.
“The shooting was indiscriminate,” one resident told local media. “They came to force us out, and when people protested, they opened fire.”
Initial reports earlier in the day cited one fatality. Within hours, that number tripled — underscoring the rapid deterioration of the situation.
Appeals for Justice
Amid the chaos, residents were heard chanting the name of Military Court Chairman Hassan Nuur Cali “Shuute,” calling on him to intervene and hold the soldiers accountable.
It remains unclear whether the military judiciary will open an investigation.
Meanwhile, gunfire reportedly continued into the afternoon as residents attempted to resist eviction efforts — some resorting to stone-throwing in a desperate attempt to defend their homes.
Opposition figures and civil society activists argue that the Heliwaa bloodshed is not an isolated incident but part of a wider campaign that intensified after President Hassan began his second term in office. The administration has framed its actions as reclaiming public land and restoring order to chaotic urban development.
But critics say the operations disproportionately target vulnerable communities while benefiting politically connected elites and business interests.
“This is not about urban planning,” said a Mogadishu-based political analyst. “It is about power, control, and who owns the city.”
Government Silence
As of Friday evening, federal authorities had not issued a detailed statement explaining the use of lethal force against civilians. The lack of transparency has only deepened public anger.
Observers warn that continued reliance on force rather than mediation could inflame tensions across the capital, where land disputes have historically been among the most volatile triggers of violence.
For residents of Heliwaa, however, the issue is immediate and personal.
“They call it government land,” one local elder said. “But this is our home.”
With blood already spilled and no clear resolution in sight, the confrontation in Heliwaa raises urgent questions about the direction of governance under President Hassan’s second term — and whether land policy is becoming a catalyst for instability rather than reform.
WardheerNews