MOGADISHU — The Somali government is under intense scrutiny after security forces arrested several rickshaw drivers in Mogadishu during protests over skyrocketing fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict.
Among those detained is Sacdiyo Moalim Ali, a mother and one of the few women working as a rickshaw driver in the capital.
Sacdiyo, who has remained behind bars for nearly five days without explanation, has become a symbol of the struggles faced by ordinary Somalis. Her work driving a rickshaw provides for her children in a male-dominated profession, but now her family faces uncertainty amid her detention.
Former Somali President and Himilo Qaran Party leader Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has stepped in to help, donating money to support Sacdiyo’s family. “She is a brave mother trying to make a living for her children, and she should not be punished for speaking out,” Sharif said in a statement.
The arrests have sparked outrage from opposition groups and civil society. Somalia’s Puntland State Minister for the Presidency, Abdifatah Abdinur, criticized the federal government for detaining young people who were peacefully protesting, calling the move “unfortunate” and accusing the current president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of “sliding into dictatorship.”
Self-declared opposition parliament speaker and federal lawmaker Sadiq Abdi accused parts of the police force of abusing power, alleging that some officers were using their positions to intimidate citizens and violate constitutional rights under the guise of maintaining security.
Regional analyst Rashid Abdi called for Sacdiyo’s immediate release, highlighting her courage. “Sacdiyo is stepping into a male-dominated sector to provide for her children. She also exercised her constitutional right to protest peacefully. With Eid just days away, her children need her now more than ever,” he said.
Supporters of the government, meanwhile, claim those detained are opposition activists trying to exploit economic grievances. But for many Somalis, Sacdiyo’s story reflects the daily hardships ordinary citizens face and the growing fears that speaking out could have serious consequences.
As the public debate intensifies, eyes are on Mogadishu to see whether the government will show mercy and release Sacdiyo and others, or continue to face mounting criticism over the handling of peaceful protests.
