Somali National University Rector Dismissed Amid Allegations of Land Dispute

Was the Somali National University Rector Dismissed Over a Land Dispute?

MOGADISHU, Sept. 7, 2025 – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has appointed Dr. Mohamed Mohamud Mohamed (PhD) as the new rector of Somali National University (SNU), in a leadership change that has reignited debate over political interference, land disputes, and governance within Somalia’s only public university.

The appointment ends the tenure of Dr. Hassan Osman Gacal, who has served as rector since October 2023. Gacal’s dismissal comes just months after he issued a strongly worded letter raising alarm over alleged land grabbing at the university’s Faculty of Medicine in Hodan district, Mogadishu.

In the letter dated 24 June 2025, Prof. Gacal described the land as crucial for “training medical professionals, delivering community health services, and supporting national education goals.” He declared that the property was “a national asset that cannot be subjected to illegal construction or private appropriation” and ordered Somali security agencies to take legal action against anyone involved.

Allegations from Parliament

The dismissal has drawn criticism from some lawmakers. Somali MP Mursal M Khalif alleged on X (formerly Twitter) that Prof. Gacal was removed for resisting “the illegal sale of public land belonging to the National University.” Sharing Gacal’s June letter, he claimed:

“The rector was sacked because he resisted the illegal sale of land. A new rector has been appointed to facilitate this sale.”

The presidency’s statement, however, made no reference to land disputes. Instead, it praised the academic credentials of the new rector, citing Dr. Mohamed’s “deep academic expertise and administrative experience,” and expressed confidence in his ability to “strengthen the ongoing efforts to raise the quality and transparency of higher education in the country.”

A Pattern of Contested Dismissals

This is not the first time leadership at SNU has ended in controversy. In October 2023, then-rector Prof. Omar Mahad-Alle told Universal Somali TV he was dismissed after submitting to the Auditor-General a list of officials allegedly involved in corruption and abuse of office.

“I was sacked over my fight against corruption … just days after submitting names of officials involved in abuse of office,” Mahad-Alle said in the interview.

His removal paved the way for the appointment of Prof. Gacal, who served until this week’s decision.

Leadership Timeline of SNU Since 2014

• 2014 – April 2021: Prof. Mohamed Ahmed Jimcaale served as the first rector after the university’s revival.

• 21 April 2021 – 15 October 2023: Prof. Hassan Cumar Mahadalle assumed the role in a formal handover from Jimcaale. He was dismissed in October 2023.

• 15 October 2023 – 7 September 2025: Dr. Hassan Osman Gacal was appointed rector by President Hassan Sheikh. His tenure included the June 2025 warning against land grabbing before his dismissal today.

• 7 September 2025 – Present: Dr. Mohamed Mohamud Mohamed (PhD) appointed rector of Somali National University.

Analysis

The absence of official explanations for the dismissals of Mahad-Alle in 2023 and Gacal in 2025 has fueled concerns about the politicization of Somali National University’s leadership. While the government frames the appointments as merit-based, critics argue they reflect deeper struggles over corruption, land ownership, and the autonomy of higher education in Somalia.

For many observers, the university’s leadership has become a flashpoint — less about academic continuity and more about navigating Somalia’s entrenched political and governance challenges.