Monday , June 8, 2026 (Baidoa Online) -Former Somali Internal Security Minister Abdullahi Mohamed Nur, owner of the Elite Hotel in Mogadishu’s Lido Beach area, has accused federal security forces of carrying out what he described as an unlawful raid on his hotel, alleging that troops looted the property and removed items during a recent security operation conducted amid rising political tensions in the capital.
Speaking at a press conference in Mogadishu, Nur said he had recently parted ways politically with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, arguing that the country’s current political challenges could not be resolved through force or armed confrontation.
According to Nur, government forces entered the hotel under what he called “incorrect orders” while both Somali and foreign employees were present. He claimed that security personnel searched the premises, confiscated equipment, and later displayed weapons allegedly recovered from the hotel. Nur categorically denied ownership of the weapons and maintained that the hotel had not been involved in any armed activities.
The former minister, however, acknowledged ownership of drones recovered from the hotel, stating that they were licensed aerial photography drones authorized by the Federal Government of Somalia. He rejected claims that the devices posed a security threat and said authorities were fully aware of their presence and legal status.
“Hunting for solutions to Somalia’s challenges through force and bullets will never be something the Somali people can accept,” Nur told reporters.
Nur further alleged that security forces entered the hotel with excessive force, describing the operation as a politically motivated action rather than a legitimate security search. He claimed the hotel was subsequently looted and that weapons displayed by authorities had been brought into the premises before being presented to the public as evidence.
The remarks come amid ongoing security operations in Mogadishu aimed at recovering illegal weapons following heightened tensions between the Federal Government and opposition groups. Authorities have stated that the operations are part of broader efforts to maintain security and prevent armed groups from destabilizing the capital.
Nur also announced that Elite Hotel will remain closed until there is a political and leadership change in Somalia, describing the decision as a personal choice made in response to recent events.
The Federal Government has not publicly responded in detail to Nur’s latest allegations. Security agencies have previously maintained that recent operations in Mogadishu were conducted to recover unauthorized weapons and strengthen public security.
The controversy surrounding Elite Hotel has become one of the latest flashpoints in Somalia’s escalating political standoff, with government officials and opposition figures offering sharply different accounts of the events, highlighting the growing divisions over governance, constitutional reforms, and the country’s political future.
