By Hassan Adan
MOGADISHU– Rights group Amnesty International has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Somali activist Sacdia Moalim Ali, who was arrested by Somali police, amid growing concern over freedom of expression in the country.
Sacdia, a 27-year-old tuk-tuk driver known as “Sadia Bajaj,” was arrested on April 12 in Mogadishu’s Hodan district by officers from the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).
She was later transferred to Mogadishu Central Prison, where she remains detained without formal charges, according to Amnesty.
The organization says she has been denied access to legal counsel and that her family has not been informed of any charges. It added that authorities obtained a court order allowing her detention for up to 90 days pending investigations.
Amnesty International has described Sacdia as a prisoner of conscience, alleging she is being held solely for her online activism and participation in peaceful protests critical of the government.
“I urge you and your government to immediately and unconditionally release Sacdia Moalim Ali, as she is detained solely for the peaceful exercise of her human rights. Pending her release, I urge you and your government to ensure she is held in conditions that adhere to international human rights standards, protected from torture and other ill-treatment, and has immediate and regular access to her family, lawyers, and adequate health care,” a letter from Amnesty sent to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud read.
Local media and rights observers say her arrest follows earlier detentions linked to protests over rising fuel prices and economic grievances, reinforcing what activists describe as a pattern of targeting dissenting voices.
The case comes against a broader backdrop of alleged restrictions on media and civic freedoms in Somalia.
Rights groups have documented arrests and harassment of journalists and activists in recent years, often linked to critical reporting or public commentary.
Amnesty International said Ali’s continued detention underscores what it called a growing trend of repression and urged Somali authorities to uphold constitutional and international obligations, including the protection of freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.
