Kenya, Sept. 17 -- Somalia arrests TikTokers for insulting President Mohamud in a provocative dance video that has ignited fierce debates on free speech and digital accountability. The four young men, identified as Omar Isse Salaad, Mahad Omar Yirid, Amin Mohamed Hassan, and Abdisalan Einainshe Ibrahim, were detained by police in the Garasbaaley district of Mogadishu on September 14, 2025, following the viral clip's spread on social media.
The video, which surfaced earlier this week, features the group grooving energetically to a remixed version of a 2022 campaign anthem originally composed for President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's re-election bid.
What started as an upbeat track celebrating national unity was twisted with derogatory lyrics mocking the leader's policies and personal traits, turning a symbol of electoral triumph into a tool of satire gone awry. Although the original post has been scrubbed from TikTok, reposts and shares across platforms like X and Instagram have kept it circulating, amassing thousands of views and comments.
Somali police wasted no time in responding. In an official statement released on September 15, authorities confirmed the suspects are in custody at a Mogadishu facility, pending formal charges under provisions of the country's penal code that criminalize defamation and insults against state institutions.
"This act disrespects the dignity of our national leadership and undermines social cohesion," the statement read, emphasizing that no further comments would be issued until legal proceedings advance.
This isn't Somalia's first brush with TikTok-related crackdowns, but it marks a significant escalation as the first targeting a sitting head of state. Last August, a Mogadishu court handed down six-month prison sentences to seven influencers for videos deemed to incite civil unrest and promote "immoral" behavior, including clan-based taunts that fueled ethnic tensions.
Those cases highlighted the government's growing unease with social media's role in a nation still healing from decades of civil war and Al-Shabaab insurgency. Human rights watchdogs, like Amnesty International, have long criticized such arrests as stifling dissent in a fragile democracy.
Police spokesman General Abdifatah Aden addressed the nation via a televised briefing on September 16, issuing a stern warning: "Anyone daring to disrespect our leaders or national symbols through similar antics will face the full force of the law." He pointed to the video's potential to exacerbate divisions in a country where clan loyalties run deep and political satire often walks a fine line between humor and hate speech.
The arrests have polarized public opinion, reigniting conversations about social media's double-edged sword in Somalia. On one side, supporters of the detentions argue that freedom of expression doesn't extend to character assassination, especially amid ongoing security threats. "In a place like Somalia, where stability is hard-won, mocking the president could spark real chaos," tweeted a Mogadishu-based analyst, echoing sentiments from pro-government voices.
Critics, however, decry it as authoritarian overreach, with diaspora communities in Minnesota and London organizing online petitions for the youths' release. "These kids were just expressing frustration-jail them for a dance?" one viral post questioned, garnering support from youth activists.
TikTok's grip on Somali youth culture is undeniable. The app boasts millions of users locally and among the global diaspora, serving as a hub for everything from viral dances and business promotions to sharp political commentary. Young creators leverage it to build personal brands, sharing skits on unemployment, corruption, and even Al-Shabaab's exploits.
Yet, this popularity has drawn scrutiny. In 2023, the federal government flirted with a nationwide ban, citing risks of misinformation, extremist recruitment, and moral decay. Public backlash-fueled by fears of isolating the tech-savvy generation-halted the plan, but officials like Information Minister Daud Aweis have since ramped up monitoring, threatening periodic shutdowns.
President Mohamud, who clinched a historic second term in 2022 as the first Somali leader to do so democratically, has positioned himself as a reformer battling clan politics and terrorism. His administration's aggressive stance on social media aligns with broader efforts to consolidate power, including recent offensives against Al-Shabaab that have reclaimed swathes of territory. Still, incidents like this underscore the tensions between modernization and control in a nation where internet penetration hovers around 20%, yet digital voices amplify rapidly.
As the case heads to court, legal experts predict charges could include public incitement and defamation, potentially leading to fines or short jail terms. The four TikTokers, all in their early 20s and hailing from urban Mogadishu neighborhoods, remain silent, advised by lawyers from local rights groups. Their plight has inspired a wave of cautious content creation, with many influencers deleting edgy posts overnight.
The Somalia arrests TikTokers for insulting President Mohamud saga serves as a stark reminder of the platform's precarious status in conflict-prone regions. While it empowers voices long silenced, it also invites swift reprisals. As Somalia navigates its path toward stability, balancing digital freedoms with national security will remain a hot-button issue, one viral video at a time.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.