Conflict Drives Farmers Into Somalia's capital Mogadishu

The families were displaced by disputes over agricultural land ownership, alongside ongoing fighting between the Somali government and Al-Shabaab and renewed clan conflicts over contested farmland. Aadan Rooble, a former farmer now living in an IDP camp in Mogadishu, said he fled the village of Farxaano in Lower Shabelle about 10 days ago because of continued fighting. Aadan said some members of his family were able to secure transportation, while he initially travelled on foot before eventually finding a vehicle. He said the family was forced to abandon the farms where they worked after repeated airstrikes targeted the village. His family is now surviving on the small amount of money his sons earn through casual labor. Aadan said he sees little prospect of returning home. Faadumo Maaddey said she fled Jasiira village, near Qoryooley in Lower Shabelle, after an artillery shell destroyed her home. A former agricultural laborer, she is now struggling to meet her basic needs in Mogadishu. Maryan Maxamed, a mother caring for seven orphaned children, also fled Lower Shabelle after fighting forced her family to leave their home in Ugunji. The family is now living in difficult humanitarian conditions in Mogadishu. Separately, Two clan militias in Somalia's Middle Shabelle region have been reported amassing heavy weapons, heightening tensions and raising fears of further clashes. The fighting took place in El Baraf district, where the two militias used government-issued weapons, further worsening the security situation and escalating tensions between the rival groups. In July 2026, Somalia recorded 17,620 internally displaced individuals, mainly as a result of conflict and insecurity (45%), drought (32%) and other causes (23%). A further 1,878 individuals were exposed to protection risks, highlighting the urgent need for sustained monitoring, safe referrals, case management and targeted life-saving assistance.     The conflicts have deepened the humanitarian crisis, disrupted the agricultural season and increased the number of displaced people arriving in Mogadishu. The situation is being further aggravated by the effects of climate change.   Reporting by Amiiro Saleebaan Ibrahim for SJS Climate reporting program