Attorney General Says Detained Activist Sadia Ali Will Soon Appear in Court
He said Ali was taken into custody on April 21 and presented before a court within 48 hours, in line with Somalia’s constitution. The court, he said, reviewed an initial investigation report before ordering her detention.
Tuesday May 26, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia’s attorney general said Monday that detained bajaj driver and activist Sadia Moallim Ali Hassan will soon appear in court, declaring that her case has now moved into the final phase of investigation and prosecution.
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Attorney General Suleyman Mohamed Mahmoud said the proceedings have followed legal procedures and dismissed criticism of the justice system as misinformation.
He said Ali was taken into custody on April 21 and presented before a court within 48 hours, in line with Somalia’s constitution. The court, he said, reviewed an initial investigation report before ordering her detention.
Investigators have since completed the case file and submitted it to prosecutors, who have forwarded it to the relevant court, according to the attorney general. A hearing is expected soon, he said.
The remarks came as pressure mounted from opposition figures and human rights organizations, which have accused the government of holding Ali unlawfully and using the courts to silence young people and critics of the administration.
On Sunday, the Somali Future Council accused the federal government of political repression, illegal detention and assaults on Somali youth and the public, saying the country’s current leadership is driven by fear and force.
Ali’s case has attracted broader attention because of her online activism and her role in protests involving bajaj drivers in Mogadishu. Rights groups say the demonstrations raised complaints about alleged corruption, unemployment, nepotism, high taxes and rising fuel prices.
Amnesty International has called Ali’s detention arbitrary, saying she was singled out solely for exercising her right to free expression. The organization said she had not been allowed legal representation and that her family had not been notified of any formal charges.
In a video shared online, Ali reportedly said Somalia’s leadership would be responsible if any harm came to her.
Mahmoud rejected accusations that justice institutions were operating outside the law, insisting that all Somali citizens stand equal before the law and that anyone accused of a crime has a constitutional right to defense and access to justice.
He also cautioned against what he described as fabricated news and public disinformation targeting the country’s security, prosecutorial and judicial bodies.
“Freedom of expression and access to information is a right guaranteed by the constitution, but it should not be violated at the expense of national security, public safety and the rights of others,” Mahmoud said.
Amnesty has called on Somali authorities to either release Ali immediately or ensure that her detention complies with international human rights standards, including access to lawyers, family visits and adequate health care.
