Mogadishu police arrest youths over checkpoint disruptions as opposition rejects accusations
The Banadir Regional Police Command said the suspects were taken into custody in security zones after allegedly engaging in conduct that could endanger public safety, disrupt stability and restrict movement in the capital.
Saturday May 23, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — Police in Mogadishu have detained several young people accused of interfering with security checkpoints and taking part in violent incidents, authorities said Friday, even as opposition leaders denounced the arrests as a political crackdown.
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The Banadir Regional Police Command said the suspects were taken into custody in security zones after allegedly engaging in conduct that could endanger public safety, disrupt stability and restrict movement in the capital.
Police said initial investigations were continuing and that the detainees would be sent to the appropriate court. Security agencies also said they were still searching for others believed to be connected to the incidents.
Officials cautioned the public against what they described as “organized actions against the security and stability of the capital.” Police added that any unauthorized demonstrations or gatherings held without security approval are prohibited under existing procedures.
MP Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame sharply criticized the arrests, saying they were intended to silence the political views of Somali youth.
He said six young people had been arrested for taking part in a peaceful protest in Mogadishu and claimed that a total of 15 youths had been detained by the government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
“The arrests of youth for peacefully expressing their views reflect the growing fear of the Hassan Sheikh regime regarding the awakening and voice of Somali youth,” Abdishakur said.
He demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the detainees and urged the government to stop what he called politically driven arrests and the intimidation of young people.
Abdishakur also appealed to Somali youth at home and abroad to support those he said were being unlawfully targeted, warning that “silence normalizes repression.”
The arrests come at a time of rising political tension in Mogadishu after recent talks between the federal government and opposition leaders broke down over elections, constitutional amendments and the country’s political transition.
