Sunday August 3, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — The Somali government is facing sharp criticism from opposition lawmakers and civil society members over the sale of key public properties in Mogadishu, including the former Ministry of Health building and the Laansareeti Hospital.
The decision has sparked public outcry, with many viewing the sale as a sign of the government’s disregard for national heritage and essential health infrastructure. The properties, considered historic symbols of resilience during Somalia’s civil war, once served as critical facilities amid the collapse of public services.
Prominent opposition MP Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame denounced the move, saying the administration of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had crossed ethical lines even clan militias avoided during the war.
“Even in the country’s darkest days, when fighting gripped every corner, militias respected hospitals and public health sites,” Abdishakur wrote on Facebook. “The sale of the Ministry of Health, Laansareeti Hospital, and other historic sites shows that President Hassan Sheikh’s government lacks the moral compass, ethics, and respect that even those militias upheld.”
Laansareeti Hospital, also known as Forlanini or Lazaretto, has served as one of Mogadishu’s oldest public health facilities, historically offering tuberculosis and mental health services. Established during the colonial era, it remained operational through Somalia’s civil war and is widely viewed as a symbol of resilience.
While the government has previously stated that former public buildings are being repurposed to expand services, critics say no new facilities have appeared to serve the displaced communities. In April, Health Minister Dr. Ali Haji Adam laid the foundation stone for a new emergency department, citing it as evidence of the administration’s efforts to revitalize public health infrastructure.
The controversy has prompted calls for a complete audit and greater transparency over the handling of state assets. Civil society groups have urged parliament to investigate the transactions and disclose the terms of sale to the public.
Concerns over land grabs in Mogadishu have been widely raised by lawmakers, civil society groups, and former government officials, many of whom warn that public properties—including schools, government offices, and healthcare facilities—are being illegally seized or sold without public oversight. In January, former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre, and MP Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame accused the federal government of displacing residents and distributing public land, including education and health facilities, to private families and politically connected businesspeople.
A week later, 97 federal lawmakers from both chambers of parliament issued their own joint declaration, directly accusing Villa Somalia of misappropriating public property for personal and political gain. The lawmakers claimed that parcels of land historically designated for schools, such as the Somali National University and Ilays School, were being auctioned off under the president’s watch. Despite the growing criticism, the federal government has not publicly addressed the allegations.
This latest accusation of illegal land theft comes as Somalia seeks to restore public trust in its institutions as it continues its ongoing reconstruction efforts following decades of conflict and state collapse.
