Facebook Crackdown in Somalia Draws Heat Amid Political Friction
MOGADISHU, Somalia — In an eyebrow-raising move, Somalia’s political air gets thicker as Facebook suspends accounts of local political mavens and vocal scribes who’ve been blowing raspberries at the Federal Government. This social media surge coincides with simmering political strains in the country.
Word on the street, delivered by Axadle, points to a curious exemption: supporters of the Federal Government, including those yapping for Villa Somalia, didn’t get their online diggs axed. It seems like this online axe is grinding down on the critics.
As per a tech whiz spilling the beans to Axadle: “Here’s the lowdown—accounts are getting shut by a two-pronged attack. First, folks’ travel papers get tagged, fabricating a bogus R.I.P. certificate that then meets Facebook. And then, accounts with flimsy security are nixed for being as porous as a sieve.”
Dabbling in Dangerous Waters
The Federal Government’s lips remain zipped on this social snafu. Meanwhile, whispers of fake death declarations are causing alarm, hinting at possible trampling on free speech and online privacy rights.
Top Dogs in the Crosshairs
Among swimming in the crackdown soup are heavyweights like Northeastern State’s head honcho, Said Abdullahi Deni, Jubaland’s trailblazer Ahmed Mohamed Islam, along with a smattering of Northeastern State’s inner cadre. Some were put on ice, others met their digital demise on paper.
Lucky for Jubaland’s Ahmed Madobe, who saw his account rise from its ashes, courtesy of savvy office geeks.
Also getting the rough end of the stick was Ali Yare Ali, a frequent critic of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s regime.
Facebook’s been playing the silent card. Tech wizards throw shade on the platform’s protocols, saying the validation process has a chink, making it ripe for shenanigans with death reports sans actual proofs.
AXADLETM
