Rising Skyscrapers, Falling Foundations: The Struggle of Mogadishu for Equitable Housing

[Deeq A.]

Mogadishu, once a renowned city in Somalia celebrated for its rich culture and historical charm, is now grappling with a crisis that jeopardizes the very foundation of its socioeconomic structure. The divide between the affluent and the less fortunate is widening due to Mogadishu's soaring house rentals, which are a result of the city's fast urbanization, the return of the diaspora, foreign aid, and a number of other interrelated causes. This alarming shift starkly contrasts with Somalia's past, when a more egalitarian middle-class culture thrived. In those days, wealth was shared, and the average Somali enjoyed a reasonable standard of living.

Source: Hiiraan Online