Former Somali Custodial Corps commander dismissed, placed under house arrest
A number of political figures, including former officials, have accused the federal government of operating outside the legal framework in its handling of the matter.
Thursday March 26, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — A sudden shake-up at the top of Somalia’s prison service has taken a new turn, with former Somali Custodial Corps Commander General Mahad Abdirahman Aden reportedly placed under house arrest without a court order just days after being removed from his post, according to sources familiar with the matter.
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Those sources said General Mahad’s personal security detail has been pulled and that his movements are now being watched. Federal authorities have not released any public statement to confirm or deny that restrictions have been imposed.
Council of Ministers on Wednesday appointed General Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud as commander of the Custodial Corps, replacing Mahad. The Ministry of Justice proposed the leadership change, but officials offered no public explanation for the dismissal.
General Mahad is the son-in-law of Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, a family tie that has drawn particular attention as relations worsen between Mogadishu and the Southwest administration. His removal and the reported confinement come as tensions between the two sides continue to intensify.
A number of political figures, including former officials, have accused the federal government of operating outside the legal framework in its handling of the matter.
Mohamed Abdi-Ware, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), urged that any limits placed on the former commander be lifted immediately, arguing that citizenship rights cannot be stripped without due process.
Former intelligence chief Fahad Yasin likewise called on authorities to clarify what is happening and to free Mahad if he is being held, warning that moves of this kind could trigger unpredictable political consequences.
Abdirahman Abdishakur, leader of the Wadajir Party, issued a sharp condemnation of what he described as the targeting of a political figure.
“It is unacceptable and goes against Somali law, religion and good culture to target an individual based on lineage or descent from someone with whom there is political disagreement,” he said.
He said the reported actions revive memories of the factional era, a period widely associated with coercion and abuses of authority, and he argued that they risk eroding public confidence in state institutions.
“General Mahad must be immediately released from house arrest and his full freedom, dignity and rights restored,” Abdishakur added.
The episode is unfolding as political strains broaden between the federal government and several regional administrations. The relationship has frayed further since parliament passed constitutional amendments extending the mandate of federal institutions from four years to five — changes rejected by Southwest, Puntland State and Jubbaland, along with multiple opposition groups.
Southwest State has formally suspended relations with the federal government, accusing Mogadishu of meddling in its political and security affairs. Politian’s say the reported restrictions on the former commander could deepen fractures inside Somalia’s already fragile federal system.