By Mohamed A Yasin

In a move that could deepen the political shake-up at the heart of Somalia’s capital, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is reportedly preparing to dismiss Mohamed Ahmed Amiir, the Mayor of Mogadishu and Governor of the Banadir Regional Administration. Appointed just months ago, Mayor Amiir is facing growing pressure from within government circles and the wider public over alleged leadership failures and rising dissatisfaction.

Multiple sources close to Villa Somalia confirm that both President Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre have grown increasingly disillusioned with the mayor’s performance. Critics point to stagnation on key fronts—including urban infrastructure, public services, and preparations for the long-delayed local elections.

“The confidence that once surrounded Mayor Amiir’s appointment has dissipated,” said a senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “He has fallen short of expectations, particularly in delivering the reforms needed to modernize the city and restore public trust.”

A Leadership Tenure Marred by Apathy

Appointed on December 10, 2024, Amiir was introduced as a technocrat with a background in economics, social development, and public administration. His appointment was initially seen as a pivot toward professional governance in a city plagued by insecurity and deteriorating infrastructure.

Six months into his tenure, however, critics argue that the administration has produced no tangible progress. The mayor was tasked with implementing major development projects, improving public services, bolstering security, and steering the city toward its first-ever local elections—all of which remain stalled.

Government sources suggest that not only have key initiatives ground to a halt, but Amiir’s leadership style has also alienated officials and development partners. “The administration lacks coordination, and essential services like waste management and sanitation remain neglected,” said one official.

Instrument of Presidential Corruption?

It is widely acknowledged—though rarely stated publicly—that the position of Mogadishu mayor is more political than administrative. Traditionally, the role has been reserved for loyalists of the sitting president, serving as a crucial node for consolidating power and controlling revenue.

Mogadishu’s municipal income—derived from taxation, port fees, licenses, and commercial activity—is significant, yet little of it is transparently accounted for. Multiple sources allege that this revenue is routinely siphoned off to the Presidency, operating as an invisible treasury to finance illicit political activity. This includes bribing Members of Parliament, co-opting opposition figures, and paying tribal elders to secure loyalty or suppress dissent.

“The mayor’s office is less a local government institution and more a financial pipeline for the presidency,” said a former senior adviser at the Ministry of Finance. “Revenue that should fund public services instead fuels the machinery of corruption and patronage.”

One rare exception was Mayor Thaabit Abdi, who openly resisted Villa Somalia’s efforts to exploit Mogadishu’s revenue as a political slush fund. Thaabit sought to establish fiscal transparency and reinvest municipal income into public development—efforts that gained him public support but ultimately cost him his job. He was abruptly dismissed in 2018, in what many interpreted as punishment for challenging the presidency’s informal financial arrangements.

“Thaabit tried to professionalize the administration and ring-fence city revenue for residents’ benefit,” said a former colleague. “But once he resisted the extraction system, he was removed.”

Leaked Audio Fuels the Fire

Public calls for Mayor Amiir’s removal intensified following the circulation of a leaked audio recording featuring MP Cismaan Xaadoole. In the recording, Xaadoole harshly criticizes the mayor’s conduct, accusing him of dereliction of duty.

“He spends more time summoning young women to his office than governing,” Xaadoole says in the clip, which has spread widely across Somali social media. He also described Amiir as “incompetent” and “a disappointment,” pointing to the worsening state of sanitation and infrastructure under his leadership.

Though both men hail from the same sub-clan, Xaadoole made clear that his concerns were not rooted in clan loyalty but in principles of good governance. “If the president fails to act, Mogadishu will rise in protest,” he warned.

Xaadoole also accused the mayor of illegally selling off public lands in 3rd Gubadley, Horseed, and Halgan, claiming that properties meant for schools and hospitals were offloaded in under-the-table deals. “He is behaving like a real estate broker for corrupt interests,” the MP said.

Concerns have also been raised that private properties are being unlawfully seized under the guise of development—fuelling public anger.

“It’s no surprise Mayor Amiir is mirroring the conduct of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who notoriously auctioned public lands without routing proceeds through the treasury,” noted a civil society leader. “Given Amiir is following in his mentor’s footsteps, it’s hard to believe Hassan would take disciplinary action against his own protégé. The mayor is not an anomaly but a product of the impunity fostered at the top.”

A Broader Crisis of Governance

Analysts argue that the dysfunction in Mogadishu reflects deeper issues in Somalia’s political system, where clan-based appointments, centralized power, and resource exploitation remain dominant features.

“The mayoral post has long been politicized to serve presidential interests rather than public welfare,” said Dr. Ahmed Abdi, a Nairobi-based political analyst. “As long as appointments are made on the basis of loyalty instead of merit, corruption will thrive—and Mogadishu will continue to deteriorate.”

A Government Under Pressure

With public frustration mounting, insiders suggest President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud may view Amiir’s dismissal as a necessary step to restore credibility and tighten his grip.

“The president cannot continue protecting underperformers while the legitimacy of his administration is under scrutiny,” said a senior advisor. “This is bigger than a mayor—it’s about the message being sent on accountability.”

If removed, Amiir would become one of the shortest-serving mayors in Mogadishu’s recent history. His tenure will likely be remembered not for reform, but for embodying the very dysfunction and corruption that continue to paralyze Somalia’s capital.

Looking Ahead

Whether Mayor Amiir’s removal signals genuine reform or merely another rotation of loyalists remains to be seen. For now, residents of Mogadishu remain skeptical but cautiously hopeful that change—real change—might finally be on the horizon.

As discussions about his successor gain traction, several names are being floated, including current district commissioners, Villa Somalia-aligned bureaucrats, and former ministers with experience in local governance. But observers warn that unless the next appointment is rooted in competence rather than clan calculations, the city’s challenges will persist.

“Leadership in Mogadishu must be professionalized,” said Dr. Abdi. “It has to be about results—not patronage. If this moment isn’t a turning point, it may simply be another missed opportunity.”

Mayor Amiir has yet to comment publicly on the growing rumors of his dismissal. While his office remains operational, insiders suggest the writing is on the wall. Ultimately, the future of Somalia’s capital will depend not just on who is appointed next—but whether they are empowered to lead with integrity, transparency, and independence.

Mohamed A Yasin
Email: moyasin680@gmail.com