Sunday , June 7, 2026 (Baidoa Online) —The Elite Hotel on Mogadishu’s Lido Beach remains closed amid a heavy security presence, with residents and business owners expressing growing concern over what they describe as curfew-like restrictions that have significantly reduced activity in one of the capital’s most vibrant recreational areas.
Once a landmark destination attracting families, tourists, and local visitors, the hotel has remained inaccessible to the public while security forces continue to maintain positions around the property. Residents say movement in parts of the surrounding area has become increasingly restricted, affecting businesses that previously depended on visitors to the beachfront.
According to local sources, members of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) and other security forces have established defensive positions near the former hotel complex. The continued deployment has fueled speculation that the property could be converted into a security or military facility, although authorities have not publicly confirmed such plans.
Business owners operating near Lido Beach report sharp declines in customer traffic since the closure of the hotel and the tightening of security measures. Restaurant operators, small vendors, transport providers, and other local enterprises say the restrictions have negatively affected their income and reduced economic activity in the area.
The controversy intensified following reports of clashes late saturday night in the Gubadley area of Mogadishu between federal government forces and troops allegedly loyal to businessman Abdullahi Mahmoud Noor, the reported owner of the Elite Hotel property.
Sources familiar with the incident said the confrontation resulted in heightened tensions, with forces aligned with the businessman reportedly withdrawing from the area after the clashes. Unconfirmed reports suggest some of those fighters later moved toward Cadale in the Middle Shabelle region.
Residents living near the hotel complain that the security measures have transformed what was once a thriving leisure destination into a heavily controlled zone. Some argue that the prolonged closure has deprived the public of access to a key recreational site and damaged the image of Lido Beach as a center for tourism and social life.
Critics also warn that turning a major commercial and tourism asset into a security installation could discourage future investment along the coastline and further weaken confidence among local entrepreneurs.
Elite Hotel was previously regarded as one of Mogadishu’s premier beachfront establishments and played an important role in supporting economic activity in the Lido area. The hotel and surrounding businesses contributed to employment opportunities and helped attract visitors to the city’s coastline.
Despite mounting public debate, the Federal Government has not released an official statement addressing the future of the property, the reported plans for the site, or the allegations regarding movement restrictions in the surrounding area.
For many residents, the uncertainty surrounding Elite Hotel has become symbolic of a broader concern: the loss of public spaces and commercial opportunities in areas increasingly dominated by security considerations.
As security forces continue to maintain control around the former hotel, questions remain over when — or whether — the property will once again serve the public and contribute to Mogadishu’s tourism and economic recovery.