Tuesday May 26, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s attorney general affirmed on Monday that detained bajaj driver and activist Sadia Moallim Ali Hassan will soon be brought before court, saying her case has reached the final stage of investigation and prosecution.
Attorney General Suleyman Mohamed Mahmoud said the case had been handled according to legal procedures and accused critics of spreading inaccurate information about the country’s justice institutions.
According to the attorney general, investigators have completed and submitted the case file, and prosecutors have forwarded the case to the competent court. He said a hearing is expected soon.
The statement comes amid growing criticism from opposition leaders and human rights groups, who have accused the government of unlawfully detaining Ali and using the justice system to silence young people and government critics.
The Somali Future Council on Sunday accused the federal government of political repression, illegal detention and attacks on Somali youth and the public, saying the current system is driven by fear and force.
Ali’s case has drawn wider attention because of her online activism and participation in protests by bajaj drivers in Mogadishu. Rights groups say the protests focused on complaints including alleged corruption, unemployment, nepotism, high taxes and rising fuel prices.
Amnesty International has described Ali’s detention as arbitrary and said she was targeted solely for exercising her right to freedom of expression. The rights group said she had not been granted access to legal representation and that her family had not been informed of formal charges.
In one video circulated online, Ali reportedly said Somalia’s leadership would bear responsibility for any harm against her.
The attorney general rejected claims that justice institutions were acting unlawfully, saying all Somali citizens are equal before the law and that anyone accused of a crime has the constitutional right to defense and access to justice.
He also warned against what he described as fake news and public misinformation targeting security, prosecution and judicial institutions.
“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 urged Somali authorities to release Ali immediately or ensure that her detention meets international human rights standards, including access to lawyers, family visits and adequate health care.
