# Reported eviction of families from Somaliland presidential complex site

> A Somaliland Standard report of 18 April 2019 claims families were forcibly evicted from land for a new presidential complex in Hargeisa.

- By: Editorial Team, Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com/about)
- Published: 30 September 2026
- Format: News story (reported from one named public source)
- Publication: Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com)
- Subject: Business and Costs
- Tags: procurement, construction-risk
- Web version: https://somaliconstructionreview.com/blog/reported-eviction-presidential-complex-hargeisa

## Key points

- The Somaliland Standard reported on 18 April 2019 that the last families occupying land earmarked for a new presidential complex in Hargeisa were evicted.
- The Director General at the presidency denied force was used, stating most families left peacefully and only one family refused to leave without force.
- The report does not establish what has happened since the eviction, including any legal proceedings, compensation, or construction progress.

On 18 April 2019, the Somaliland Standard reported that the last families occupying land earmarked for a new presidential complex in Hargeisa had been evicted. The report, published that day, stated the families were “ejected forcefully” by security forces.

Mohamed Ali Bile, Director General at the presidency, denied that claim. He said most families vacated the land peacefully, and that only one family refused to leave without force, according to the Somaliland Standard.

The land is in the suburbs of south west Hargeisa. The report said a well-known family argued it owns the land, while the government says the land is public. Ownership remains contested.

The report also stated that families accused the president of seizing their property by force. They told local media that police bulldozed their homes and threw them out at dawn, the Somaliland Standard reported.

The construction of the new presidential palace caused public outcry in Hargeisa, according to the report.

The Somaliland Standard report does not state what has happened since 18 April 2019. It does not mention any legal proceedings, compensation, or progress on the presidential complex. No contractor, consultant, client, funder, cost, value, currency, quantities, or timeline is provided. There is no information on whether construction has begun, whether the families received compensation, or whether the contested ownership has been resolved.

## Questions

### Why were the families evicted?

They were evicted from land earmarked for a new presidential complex in Hargeisa, according to the Somaliland Standard report of 18 April 2019.

### What compensation was offered?

The report does not mention any compensation.

### What is the size and scope of the presidential complex project?

The report provides no details on the size, scope, cost, or construction status of the complex.

## Sources

- [Somaliland: Families refusing to vacate land earmarked for the construction of presidential complex evicted](https://somalilandstandard.com/somaliland-families-refusing-to-vacate-land-earmarked-for-the-construction-of-presidential-complex-evicted/) — Somaliland Standard, 2019-04-18