Mass arrests, forced evictions, and the detention of Sadia Moalim Ali

Sadia Moalim Ali, a 27-year-old Somali activist and nursing graduate, who was arrested last month and has remained in detention for more than three weeks, has alleged that she was tortured while being held in prison in Mogadihsu after participating in peaceful anti-government protests. In an interview from prison with the Guardian, Sadia said she was “stripped naked by male guards,” beaten with a baton, kicked while lying face down, and denied food and access to a toilet while held in solitary confinement. She claimed the abuse occurred after she spoke to the media about her detention, which she says was carried out without proper legal process or access to a lawyer.

On April 12, 2026, Sadia was arrested in Mogadishu by Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) following her peaceful activism on social media and participation in public protests. She was initially detained for two days before being transferred on April 14, 2026, to Mogadishu Central Prison, where she remains in custody. Despite her continued detention, no formal charges were initially brought against her.

However, following her arrest and the subsequent media coverage, Somalia’s Office of the Attorney General released a statement on May 6. The Office of the Attorney General said that the Banadir Regional Court’s Office had formally filed charges against Sadia. According to the statement, she is under investigation for serious offenses, including “defamation and public incitement.”

Since her arrest, Somali opposition figures have been calling for her release. Senior opposition leaders, including former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, have demanded her immediate release.

According to human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Sadia’s arrest is linked to her outspoken criticism of government policies and governance issues. The 27-year-old activist had used platforms such as Facebook and TikTok to speak publicly about corruption, nepotism, forced evictions, youth unemployment, taxation, and rising fuel prices.

“Amnesty International urges the Somali authorities to immediately and unconditionally release her,” the organization said.

Sadia’s detention also follows an earlier arrest on March 12, 2026, when she was detained after participating in protests against rising fuel prices and later released after four days. Activists and rights advocates say the repeated arrests reflect a broader pattern of intimidation and targeting of peaceful government critics and youth activists in Somalia.

Over the past several weeks, arrests of journalists and political activists have increased in Mogadishu, raising serious concerns among media watchdogs, civil society organizations, and human rights advocates. Several journalists have reportedly been detained without formal charges, while others allege they were beaten, intimidated, and held in undisclosed locations by security agencies.

Among the latest incidents were the arrests of three Mogadishu-based journalists, some of whom claimed they were subjected to physical abuse during detention. According to reports from local media organizations and activists, the detainees were allegedly denied access to legal representation and were not informed of the reasons for their arrests.

Three major political issues are driving the recent wave of arrests and restrictions. First, the current federal government’s mandate is approaching its end. Second, Somalia has been trapped in a prolonged political deadlock over constitutional changes introduced by the current administration over the past two years, a dispute that has placed Somalia’s 2026 elections in serious jeopardy. Third, there has been a massive wave of evictions in Mogadishu, which has triggered unprecedented public outrage.

For nearly two years, federal leaders and federal member states have struggled to reach consensus on key constitutional reforms and the electoral roadmap. The current administration has insisted on implementing a one-person, one-vote electoral model. Opposition groups, as well as several federal member states, have rejected the proposal, accusing the government of taking unilateral actions that contradict Somalia’s provisional constitution. Despite multiple rounds of negotiations, no comprehensive agreement has been reached.

At the same time, the federal government has continued to organize controversial elections in Mogadishu and in several federal member states, including South West State. Opposition groups and critics have accused the government of attempting to shape the electoral process without broad political consensus.

Moreover, for much of the current president’s term in office, the administration has faced widespread accusations of land grabbing and the forced eviction of local communities. The government has consistently defended its actions by insisting that it is merely “reclaiming public land” that had been “illegally occupied” or misused over the years. However, opposition leaders and civil society groups strongly dispute this narrative, arguing that government officials and influential figures have instead exploited the process for personal and political gain.

According to opposition figures, large portions of the “reclaimed land” have allegedly been sold illegally to private businesses and wealthy investors, raising serious concerns about corruption, abuse of power, and the lack of transparency surrounding land ownership policies. These accusations have fueled growing public anger across the country.

Opposition politicians have repeatedly warned businesses and investors against purchasing land taken from local residents, claiming that many of the evictions were carried out unlawfully and without proper compensation.

Last year, several former presidents issued a rare joint statement calling on the current administration to immediately halt the forced evictions and protect vulnerable communities from displacement. Human rights activists and community leaders say thousands of people have been removed from their homes, with many houses reportedly demolished during the operations. Families affected by the evictions have described losing their homes, property, and livelihoods with little or no notice.

Following mounting criticism and growing public pressure, the government announced on Friday that it would temporarily halt the eviction operations and establish a commission of inquiry to investigate allegations surrounding the land disputes.

In a later press statement, Somalia’s Minister of Public Works, Ayub Ismail, said the government is working on plans to construct public housing for families displaced during the evictions. According to the minister, the administration intends to build approximately 12,000 housing units capable of accommodating more than 80,000 people.

Ayub argued that the housing initiative “demonstrates the government’s commitment to providing long-term solutions for displaced residents” and improving urban development. Nevertheless, critics remain skeptical about the announcement, questioning whether the proposed housing projects will be completed and whether those affected by the evictions will receive fair treatment and adequate compensation.

As these controversial elections and mass evictions across Mogadishu continue, critics say authorities have intensified efforts to silence dissenting voices. Journalists, activists, and opposition figures who question the legitimacy of the ongoing political process have increasingly faced arrests, harassment, and intimidation. Opposition figures and Human rights organization are now calling on the federal government to immediately release detained journalists and activists.