Saturday September 12, 2026
Bosaso (HOL) — Puntland authorities announced on Friday that the plan to clear government-owned land and facilities in Bosaso is different from the demolition of public structures currently underway in Mogadishu.
Bosaso District Commissioner Abdirahman Abdullahi Ali said the administration has been implementing a months-long plan to reclaim government-owned sites, some of which he said had been occupied by private individuals for years.
He said the cleared sites would not be handed back to private individuals or businesspeople but would instead be turned into public spaces as part of efforts to improve Bosaso’s urban appearance and planning.
The district commissioner said the city’s redevelopment began months ago near the local government headquarters and has since expanded toward the main road linking Bosaso to the airport.
“Bosaso’s growth and strategic importance have created a need for new urban planning to establish public spaces that reflect the city’s transformation,” he said.
Ali said Bosaso has hosted many people over the past four decades and remains ready to welcome newcomers, but added that government land must be used in a planned way that benefits the wider community.
“It would continue reorganizing and clearing government-owned sites, prioritizing urban development, public spaces and the proper use of state land,” he added.
The statement comes as demolition operations in Mogadishu have drawn public attention and criticism, with some residents raising concerns over displacement and the handling of public land.
