Mogadishu, Somalia — November 2025
Independence House has released a new report examining the everyday mobility challenges faced by Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in Mogadishu. The study, Inclusive Urban Mobility in Fragile Contexts: Assessing Mobility and Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities in Mogadishu, documents how physical obstacles, weak policy enforcement, and negative social attitudes continue to lock out many citizens from fully participating in urban life.
The research comes at a time when Mogadishu is expanding rapidly. High-rise buildings, new roads, and revived commercial activity are reshaping the city. But while development accelerates, many residents living with disabilities say they feel invisible in the city’s reconstruction agenda.
A Growing City Leaving Many Behind
According to government data, over 11 percent of Somalis live with some form of disability. In Mogadishu, mobility-related difficulties—particularly for those with impaired sight or limited mobility—are among the most common. Yet these needs are rarely reflected in how the city is planned or how services operate.
Independence House conducted surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions with PWD from across the capital. Researchers also engaged transport operators, planners, and policy institutions to better understand the gaps between policy and reality.
Key Barriers Identified
The findings reveal a cityscape that remains overwhelmingly unfriendly to people living with disabilities.
Inaccessible infrastructure
Most respondents said they struggle to move through their neighbourhoods and public spaces.
• 88% reported having no wheelchair-friendly pavements near their homes.
• 93% said crossings lack tactile paving or audible signals for the visually impaired.
• Ramps and accessible entrances remain scarce even in new buildings.
One respondent described daily life in Mogadishu as “a constant fight to move from one point to the next,” especially during rainy seasons when streets become muddy or flooded.
Transport challenges
Mogadishu does not have a formal public transport system, and the vehicles that serve the city are rarely designed with accessibility in mind.
• 79% of respondents said bus stops or pick-up points are inaccessible.
• 95% said public vehicles lack spaces for wheelchairs or assistive devices.
• Many reported being denied service or asked to disembark midway due to congestion.
These challenges often leave PWD relying on others for support or limiting their movement entirely, deepening social and economic exclusion.
Social and institutional barriers
Beyond physical obstacles, the study found low levels of awareness among the public and within key institutions.
• 81% of respondents said they are not aware of any government initiatives supporting accessible mobility.
• Only 17% had ever been consulted in any planning process, and most felt their views were ignored.
Attitudes within the transport sector are a particular concern. Respondents described experiences of verbal abuse, impatience, or dismissive behaviour from drivers and conductors.
Places of worship and cultural centres are similarly inaccessible. Despite religious teachings emphasizing inclusion, many mosques still lack ramps or supportive facilities, effectively sidelining worshippers living with disabilities.
A Call for Inclusive Urban Planning
The study stresses that the current situation is not simply a matter of individual difficulty but a broader rights issue. Somalia’s National Disability Strategy (2025–2029) outlines a clear framework for inclusion, but implementation remains uneven. Urban planning still prioritizes security concerns, commercial expansion, and private development over accessibility.
“Mogadishu is developing quickly, but if the city’s growth does not include people with disabilities, it is not development—it is exclusion,” Independence House noted.
- Recommendations for Change
The report makes several proposals aimed at improving mobility and accessibility in the city:
• Upgrade infrastructure: Introduce ramps, walkways, safe crossings, and signage to accommodate different types of disability.
• Reform the transport sector: Ensure vehicles and operators meet minimum accessibility standards.
• Build public awareness: Use community outreach and education to reduce stigma and improve understanding.
• Train institutions and service providers: Strengthen the capacity of local authorities, planners, and transport operators to support disability inclusion.
• Mainstream disability needs in all development plans: Ensure future projects—from roads to buildings—consider accessibility from the start.
• Expand donor support: Encourage development partners to fund programs that advance inclusion and accessibility.
A Moment for Action
The study highlights a simple reality: for too long, people living with disabilities in Mogadishu have been overlooked in planning, policy, and public life. As the city rebuilds, Independence House argues that this moment presents an opportunity to correct that course.
“Accessibility is not charity—it is a right. By investing in inclusive mobility today, Mogadishu can become a city where everyone has the freedom to move, work, worship, and participate in public life.”
Independence House will continue working with government institutions, civil society, and community groups to advocate for disability-inclusive policies and reforms.
About Independence House
Independence House is a think tank, not-for-profit organization based in Somalia. Its core mandate is the protection and promotion of civil and political rights, freedom of expression and advancement of democracy in Somalia and the Horn of Africa through research, investigations, public forums and regular publications, Independence House endeavors to fuel transformative democratic activism through the media, civil society and any other public spaces available.
Contact:
KM4, Hodon District, Mogadishu, Somalia
info@independencehouse.so
