The President prayed alongside army personnel in the frontline area of the historic coastal settlement, where he also reflected on the destruction and abandonment that have affected Gandarshe over the years.
Hassan Sheikh said he was deeply saddened by the condition of the town, noting that it was once a place he used to visit regularly, but whose residents have since endured hardship and displacement due to insecurity and conflict. He said Somalia was now facing a new phase in the war against Al-Shabaab, stressing that military operations would continue as part of efforts to restore security and stability in areas affected by the militant group.
The President also defended the federal government’s controversial move to reclaim public land in Mogadishu, saying the action was not intended to dispossess citizens but to recover national assets and reassert state authority. He said the government was taking responsibility for ensuring that public land is used for the benefit of society and for restoring the institutions needed to serve the Somali people.
Hassan Sheikh also launched a sharp attack on opposition figures who have criticised the land recovery exercise, accusing them of lacking unity and failing to offer a clear alternative vision for Somalia. He said the country needs a collective commitment to state-building and national recovery, but argued that the opposition has so far failed to present a coherent plan capable of addressing the security, governance and development challenges facing the nation.
The episode underscores the continuing pressure on Somali institutions as the federal government and regional authorities seek to balance security operations with political stability and public confidence.
