Sunday May 14, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - Somalia's Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, has taken a step towards addressing the country's endemic public property disputes by establishing an 8-member committee. This group is tasked with the arduous mission of reclaiming public assets, including those of state institutions and companies, from private individuals.
"The committee will tirelessly identify and evaluate these properties, safeguarding our nation's resources," said the Prime Minister's spokesperson on Twitter. The Prime Minister also encouraged Somali citizens to collaborate with the committee.
The committee's members include senior government officials such as:
- Abshir Omar Jama (Huruse), Foreign Affairs Minister
- Dr. Elmi Mohamud Nur, Finance Minister
- Jibriil Abdirashid Haji Abdi, Commerce Minister
- Ismail Abdirahman Sh. Bashir, Public Works Minister
- Yusuf Hussein Jim'ale (Madale), Banadir's Governor and Mayor
- Dr. Osman Elmi Guuled, National Attorney
- Abshir Mohamed Ahmed (Bukhari), Presidency's State Minister
- Hirsi Jama Gaani, OPM's State Minister
Land disputes and the illegal occupation of public properties have been ongoing issues in Somalia. The 1980s marked the rise of land-grabbing by political elites, inciting conflict and unrest. The problem was exacerbated by the displacement of people during the 1988-1992 civil war, resulting in
displaced persons occupying government land and buildings. The precarious living situation for IDPs has frequently led to violent disputes, further fueled by allegations of biased dispute resolution processes.
The establishment of the Public Property Recovery Committee marks a potential turning point in this predicament. The committee faces an arduous task, given the intricate socio-political landscape and historical contexts of land disputes in Somalia. They will have to navigate potential resistance from current property holders, entrenched interests, and the challenge of ensuring a fair recovery process.
The committee's composition of seasoned politicians presents a double-edged sword. While they may bring a deep understanding of Somalia's political landscape and land issues, their involvement in a political system that lacked accountability could pose potential challenges, ranging from impartiality risks, corruption, and deficiency of public trust, to challenges in establishing new accountability standards.
The urgency of the committee's work has been underscored by a series of high-profile incidents involving illegal transfers, leases, or government land sales, sometimes
implicating high-ranking officials. The issue reached a boiling point in 2021 when then-President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo
suspended all public land transactions until parliament could finalize rules and regulations. Despite these measures, illegal activities continued, as exemplified by the controversial
razing of the Hamar Boarding School in Mogadishu in February 2021, an act met with widespread outrage, highlighting the urgency and severity of the public land theft issue in Somalia.