GALKAYO (KAAB TV) – Elders and prominent businessmen from the Digil and Mirifle clans have been held in detention for a third consecutive day in Galkayo, the capital of the Mudug region, according to local sources on Tuesday.
Community leaders and residents report that the detainees — including respected traditional elders and influential business figures — are being held in the Sinai neighborhood by individuals affiliated with a local clan. The group responsible for the detentions is reportedly demanding compensation for a killing that occurred years ago in Southern Somalia.
While the perpetrators claim the arrests are in retaliation for a deadly incident involving members of their community within the South West Administration (KGS), the individuals currently being held are not believed to have any direct connection to that event, which occurred hundreds of kilometers away.
“This is nothing short of public humiliation. Innocent people are being detained without trial — and all of this is happening with the full knowledge of the local security forces,” said one Galkayo resident, speaking anonymously due to safety concerns.
The arrests have sparked outrage among community members and officials, who have condemned the detentions as illegal and urged immediate intervention by both the Galmudug regional administration and Somalia’s federal government.
To date, there has been no official response from either the Mudug regional police command or the Galmudug authorities, further heightening concerns about the erosion of rule of law and the growing influence of extrajudicial actions.
Critics argue the incident reflects deeper flaws in Somalia’s legal system, particularly its reliance on clan-based justice and the lack of accountability among local institutions.
“This is a grave violation of human rights and a disgrace to any official who claims to uphold justice,” said one elder from the Digil clan. “No one should be detained for crimes they had no involvement in.”
The atmosphere in Galkayo remains tense. Historically a hotspot for intercommunal tensions, the city straddles the border between two federal member states and has seen repeated flare-ups of conflict in recent years.