COMMON ANALYSIS
Last update: August 2023
Evictions from government buildings and by private landlords in Somalia represent a constant risk for vulnerable communities, among which IDPs living in collective settlements and other urban poor individuals in densely populated areas [Security 2021, 1.4.3., p. 41]. Forced evictions by private actors were mostly executed in order to have clear land that they can develop. At times, also political and military elites conducted land grabs and issued forced evictions [KSEI 2021, 1.3.2.4., pp. 34-35]. Evictions had far-reaching impacts on already marginalised populations, including increased vulnerability to violence, loss of assets and social networks, sexual assault, destruction of livelihoods, and separation of families. Evictions also cause and exacerbate displacement within the country. Moreover, poverty and forced evictions were reported to be mutually dependent and reinforcing. [Security 2023, 1.4.3., p. 50]
For the period 1 December 2022 to 30 March 2023, 62 040 individuals were reported to have been forcibly evicted in Somalia, 70 % of them from Benadir region [COI Update 2023, 1.3.6., p. 20]
Somaliland forces arrested and evicted 7 000 people from Laas Caanood on alleged security grounds in October 2021. Evictions continued during 2022 and have been reported in Lower Jubba, Bay, Benadir/Mogadishu, Mudug, Nugal, Sool, Sanaag, Awdal, Wogoyi Galbeed and Todgheer [Security 2023, 1.4.2., p. 48; 2.1.3., p. 80; 2.2.2., p. 99; 2.3.3., pp. 118-119; 2.5.2., p. 152; 2.6.1., pp. 158-159; 2.7.1., pp. 171-172; 2.7.2., p. 177; 2.8.1., p. 181; 2.8.2., p. 185; 2.8.3., p. 190].
Where there is no nexus to a reason for persecution, (the risk of) being subjected to forced eviction may qualify under Article 15(b) QD, depending on the severity of its consequences in the individual case.