Somalian Police have arrested four TikTokers for allegedly insulting President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in a dance video. According to the police, the suspects are now in custody and will be formally charged in court.
The authorities said the behaviour in the recent video constituted a criminal offence under Somali law. In the post, several young men were dancing to the president’s campaign song with the lyrics altered to include derogatory language.
Police spokesman Abdifatah Aden warned the public that anyone engaging in similar acts would face the full force of the law”. According to him, the platform is being used to spread harmful content, including extremist propaganda and defamatory material.
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The arrest have reignited public debate in the country as some support the arrested men while others have defended the arrests. Before this, social media influencers have been arrested and jailed for spreading clan-based insults on social media platforms.
In August last year, seven TikTokers were sentenced to six months in prison for provoking civil unrest and spreading immorality. Also, in 2023, the government considered banning the platform altogether, citing concerns over national security and the spread of misinformation.
However, the ban was not implemented at the time because of strong public opposition. TikTok is a popular platform in Somalia, especially among the youth, who use it for political commentary and satire.
