Mogadishu, Somalia — A plan by Somalia’s federal government to demolish parts of Martini Hospital, a historic healthcare facility in Mogadishu, came to an abrupt halt on Wednesday after the Italian government, a key international donor, intervened to protect the site, according to sources.
Three days ago, bulldozers moved into the hospital compound, tearing down doctors’ quarters, a water tank, and sections of the facility’s perimeter.
The apparent intention, according to local sources, was to convert the property into a lucrative real estate development — a move critics described as a blatant misappropriation of public resources.
According to officials, the demolition effort was met with a swift and pointed response from the Italian government, which has long provided financial and technical support to Martini Hospital.
Italian officials reportedly pressured Somali authorities to halt the project, emphasizing the hospital’s essential role in the country’s fragile healthcare system.
In the wake of the intervention, the Somali government ordered bulldozers removed from the site and announced plans to reconstruct the demolished structures.
The Ministry of Health declined to comment on the initial demolition order, but a senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the incident as a “miscalculation.”
Martini Hospital, originally established during Italy’s colonial administration in Somalia, is one of Mogadishu’s oldest healthcare institutions.
It has served as a critical referral center for decades, offering free medical services to some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it functioned as Somalia’s primary isolation and treatment facility.
The attempted demolition has ignited a wave of public outcry, with healthcare workers and activists accusing the government of prioritizing commercial interests over public health.
“This hospital is not just a building; it’s a lifeline for countless Somali families,” said Dr. Abdi Warsame, a physician who served at Martini Hospital before the collapse of Somalia’s central government in 1991, which plunged the nation into decades of civil unrest.
“To destroy it for profit is unthinkable.”
The incident highlights broader concerns about the management of public assets in Somalia, where accusations of corruption and short-term economic schemes frequently mar governance efforts.
This comes amid growing calls by opposition leaders and civil society groups for greater transparency and accountability to ensure public institutions like Martini Hospital remain protected.
“Martini Hospital is a testament to international cooperation and the resilience of Somalia’s healthcare system,” said Fatima Ahmed, a Mogadishu-based civil society leader.
“The government must prioritize strengthening such institutions rather than undermining them.”
The government’s reconstruction efforts are already underway, but questions remain about the motivations behind the initial demolition order and whether similar plans might resurface.
For now, Martini Hospital stands — a symbol of resistance against mismanagement and a reminder of the precarious balance between public interest and private ambition in Somalia’s evolving governance landscape.
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