Clashes Erupt as Federal Forces Demolish Homes in Mogadishu's Tookiyo Neighbourhood Overnight; ~10 Hurt

Federal security forces began demolishing homes in the Tookiyo area of Mogadishu's Yaqshiid district around midnight on Sunday, August 23, 2026, in an operation the government said was reclaiming state-owned land; the demolitions and ensuing confrontations with residents continued through the day. Security personnel and construction crews dismantled corrugated-iron roofing and structures as residents — who say they have lived in Tookiyo for decades — tried to block the operation, demanding clarity on its legal basis. Nearly ten people, including civilians, were injured in the clashes; unverified reports of fatalities circulated but were not independently confirmed. Former presidents Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed 'Farmaajo' and Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed both publicly condemned the demolitions as forced displacement of families, elevating a local land dispute to national political significance. Hundreds of families face potential displacement, and residents voiced concern the operation could extend toward Suuq Bacaad, a major food market serving Mogadishu's northern districts.