Thursday March 12, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo on Wednesday condemned the arrest and alleged mistreatment of Bajaj drivers who staged protests in Mogadishu over soaring fuel prices and rising living costs.
In a statement, Farmaajo criticized authorities for detaining drivers who were demonstrating peacefully to express concerns about inflation and worsening economic conditions.
“Citizens have the right to express their grievances peacefully,” Farmaajo said, urging the drivers to continue advocating for their rights through lawful and nonviolent means.
The remarks came hours after hundreds of auto rickshaw drivers blocked sections of the road between the Taleh and KM4 junctions, disrupting traffic in protest against the sharp rise in fuel prices.
According to traders and transport operators, the price of gasoline in Mogadishu has surged from about 65 cents per liter to roughly $1.50 in less than two weeks more than doubling in a short period.
The increase has placed significant strain on Bajaj operators and taxi drivers, who provide much of the capital’s public transport. Many say they may be forced to raise fares, potentially driving up the cost of goods and services in a city already facing economic hardship.
Some fuel suppliers have attributed the price spike to escalating tensions in the Middle East and concerns over shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for global oil supplies.
Authorities have not publicly responded to Farmaajo’s statement or detailed the number of arrests made during the protests.
