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Police in Somalia have arrested four TikTok content creators accused of insulting President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in a viral dance video.
The video shows several young men dancing to a remix of the president’s 2022 campaign song, with the lyrics altered to include derogatory remarks. Authorities said the suspects are in custody and will be formally charged, though the men have not spoken publicly since their arrest.
This marks the first time TikTok users have been detained for targeting a top politician in Somalia. In the past, social media influencers have faced arrest and jail sentences for clan-based insults, incitement, or “immoral” content. Just last year, a Mogadishu court sentenced seven TikTokers to six months in prison for spreading immorality and provoking unrest.
Police spokesman Gen Abdifatah Aden warned that disrespecting state institutions or leaders online would be treated as a criminal offence under Somali law, urging others to avoid similar behaviour.
The arrests have reignited debate about social media’s role in Somalia, particularly TikTok, which is highly popular among young people at home and in the diaspora. While some support the TikTokers’ right to free expression, others argue such acts threaten fragile governance in the country.
TikTok remains one of Somalia’s most-used platforms for political satire, business, and entertainment. In 2023, the government considered banning it over concerns about extremism, misinformation, and moral erosion, but backed down amid strong public opposition.
