MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somali police violently dispersed a group of young people from South West State who were celebrating the anniversary of their state’s flag in the capital, Mogadishu. The youths were seen being beaten and chased away, sparking widespread outrage on social media.
An eyewitness, who requested to remain anonymous, told Mareeg Online that several people were wounded when police officers abruptly interrupted the celebration near the KM4 junction, a central area of the city.
A video shared by Mareeg Online shows police officers armed with sticks and rifles, violently scattering a group of young people who were peacefully celebrating South West State’s flag day, many of them proudly wearing the colors of their regional flag.
Celebrating regional identity through flags and public gatherings is common in Mogadishu. Similar events for other states, such as Hirshabelle and Galmudug, have been held in the capital without any interference from the authorities.
Just last month, for instance, a controversial gathering for Hiran State—an unrecognized self-declared entity—took place without any major disruption, despite the fact that gunfire broke out and led to casualties. However, in this case, no police action was taken as gunfire was used during the event, resulting in fatalities.
What has particularly raised alarm, however, is the glaring double standard. While other regional groups have been allowed to celebrate without incident, police in Mogadishu chose to violently intervene in the peaceful celebration of South West State’s flag.
MP Mohamed Aboukar condemned the police action, calling it “unacceptable” and vowing that those responsible would face consequences. “If the people of South West celebrate, they are repressed; if they celebrate their flag, they are further oppressed,” he said, expressing frustration at the double standard.
The Himilo Qaran Party, led by former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, also issued a strong condemnation. Describing the assault as “unjust,” Ahmed expressed his disbelief that peaceful youth from South West State were targeted by security forces, resulting in injuries and trauma. “These young people were simply celebrating their identity, only to be met with brutality,” he said.
Ahmed also pointed out the troubling disparity between how the celebration of South West State’s flag was treated compared to similar events held by other regional groups in the capital. “It’s clear that South West youth are being singled out for repression,” he added.
He called for the immediate arrest of the soldiers involved in the attack and demanded swift legal action. “It is deeply concerning that innocent youths are being targeted for no reason. “We must hold those responsible accountable and ensure this never happens again.”
South West State leaders have long raised concerns about being unfairly targeted in Mogadishu. This latest incident echoes a similar episode when South West’s sports team was attacked during a regional tournament, forcing them to withdraw from the competition due to security concerns.
