By Unknown Author - Contributor
Recently prominent opposition figures among them a former President and a former Prime Minister condemned the sale of government land to anyone with a bag of money, terming such actions outright illegal.
There is no land commission or any other commission mandated to transparentky oversee the sale of government land. All the proceeds from these sales are not deposited in government treasury and is therefore not reflected in the budgets of 2022, 2o23, 2024 and 2025.
These lands have been sold to individual entities for $150,000 to 250,000 a piece to pay monetary or political debts, and in some cases to business corporations for millions of dollars. In both instances, hundreds of low income or at times impoverished citizens are displaced.
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Truth is, the the mass sale of land by the Government is not only a wanton disregard for the rule of law, but also a stark reminder of the Federal Government's failure to prioritize the needs of the people. The Government, in its desire to make quick cash has displaced thousands of poor citizens.
It is sad that the Government of Somalia is vested in the exploitation of public resources for private gain. It is a betrayal of the trust placed in them by the people.
The opposition leaders have rightly condemned this action and called for immediate cessation and accountability. It is now up to the citizens to join them in demanding change and ensuring that public resources are used for the benefit of all.
The government’s responsibility is to prioritize the welfare of its citizens and ensure that public resources are used for public utility but auctioning land-and in doing so, displacing the poor- is a clear indication of abuse of office, greed and runaway corruption.
