Social Media Crackdown Targets Somali Politicians and Journalists Amid Political Tensions

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Over the past 48 hours, a wave of Facebook account suspensions has impacted Somali politicians, journalists, and prominent figures critical of the Federal Government. This development comes as Somalia faces heightened political tensions.

According to information gathered by Garowe Online, the suspensions have not affected individuals affiliated with the Federal Government, including members of the Federal Cabinet and others on social media who actively support Villa Somalia’s policies. The crackdown appears specifically aimed at critics of the administration.

“The accounts are being closed in two ways,” a technology expert explained to Garowe Online. “Either the individual’s travel documents are flagged to create a false death certificate that is submitted to Facebook, or accounts with weak security settings are disabled due to their vulnerability.”

Potential Constitutional Violation

The Federal Government has yet to release an official statement on the account suspensions. Meanwhile, reports of profiles falsely registered as deceased have raised concerns about possible constitutional violations regarding freedom of speech and digital privacy.

High-Profile Targets

High-profile figures impacted by the crackdown include Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni, Jubaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam, and several ministers within Puntland’s administration. Some accounts were restricted, while others were flagged as deceased.

Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe’s account, along with others belonging to Puntland officials, was later reinstated after office technicians intervened.

Other government critics targeted include Ali Yare Ali, who has frequently expressed dissent toward President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration.

Facebook has not yet commented on these incidents. Information technology (IT) experts suggest that flaws in Facebook’s security may allow individuals to exploit verification systems, enabling them to falsely report accounts as deceased without proper validation.

GAROWE ONLINE