Mogadishu, a city scarred by decades of conflict, now faces a macabre dilemma: the living are forced to share their homes with the dead. This grotesque scenario unfolds as bodies are exhumed from cemeteries slated for redevelopment, a grim testament to the failures of leadership under Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
The recent decision by the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) to demolish the School Polizia cemetery has sparked outrage and despair among Mogadishu’s residents. Families are left with no choice but to store the remains of their loved ones in their living spaces, unable to afford the exorbitant costs associated with exhumation and reburial. The breakdown of these costsโ$100 for a plastic body bag, $40 for exhumation work, and $10 for an exhumation receiptโtotals $150 per body. This is a staggering sum in a country where many live on less than $2 a day.
The situation is further exacerbated by bureaucratic extortion, with police demanding $20 documentation fees from grieving families. The plight of one resident encapsulates the broader tragedy: โMy father was a Somali veteran of the 1977 war. He was assassinated in 2017 by Al-Shabab, defending his country, and was buried for free by the previous government. Today, my father’s body is being ransomed for $20 by President Hassan Sheikh, who is repurposing the cemetery. I earn only $7 a day breaking stone.โ
This indignity imposed on the deceased and their families is a direct consequence of governmental policies prioritizing luxury developments over human dignity. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamudโs administration, by denying initial plans to demolish the cemetery and later pushing forward with the project, has demonstrated a shocking level of insensitivity and greed. The involvement of government-affiliated religious figures to justify these actions using Qur’anic verses is a disturbing manipulation of faith to validate profiteering.
Critics have rightfully labeled Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as one of the most disgustful greedy and incompetent leaders in Somaliaโs history. His tenure is marked by decisions that prioritize wealth and power over the welfare of the citizens. The exhumation crisis is but one example of how his administrationโs policies have devastated the lives of innocent people, stripping away the last vestiges of dignity from those who have already suffered so much.
This crisis also serves as a stark reminder of the unfinished business from Somalia’s turbulent past. The unresolved legacy of the civil war, epitomized by the events of 1991, continues to haunt the nation. The government’s failure to provide for its people, even in death, underscores the urgent need for a leadership that is not only competent but compassionate and committed to the well-being of all Somalis.
In conclusion, the actions of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government are a betrayal of the Somali people. The exhumation and subsequent storage of bodies in living homes is a horrific outcome of policies driven by greed and incompetence. Somalia needs leaders who understand the sanctity of life and death, and who will fight for the dignity of their citizens, rather than exploit them for financial gain. The international community and Somali citizens alike must hold the government accountable and push for reforms that prioritize human dignity over profit.
This article is contributed by Dr. XIDDIG