MOGADISHU, Somalia, June 23, 2026-Somali social activist and rickshaw driver Sacdiyo Moalim Ali, widely known as “Sacdiyo Bajaj,” appeared for the first time before the Banadir Regional Court on Tuesday as she remains in detention for 74 days, according to her legal representatives and rights groups.
Her court appearance comes amid growing pressure from international rights organizations, including Amnesty International, which has called for her “immediate and unconditional release,” saying she has been held without charge since her arrest in Mogadishu.
Sacdiyo Bajaj was arrested on April 12 in Mogadishu’s Hodan district by officers from the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), according to Amnesty International. She was later held at a local police station before being transferred on April 14 to Mogadishu Central Prison.
According to Amnesty International, Sacdiyo Bajaj has been detained for more than two months without formal charges being made public.
She appeared before the Banadir Regional Court for the first time on Tuesday, where her case was scheduled for hearing after weeks of detention, according to court sources and individuals familiar with the proceedings.
Her legal status and the specific charges against her have not been officially clarified by authorities.
According to rights groups, her detention followed a protest by Bajaj operators in Mogadishu who blocked key roads to demonstrate against rising fuel prices and worsening economic conditions.
Witnesses and civil society sources say Sacdiyo, who is a university graduate, later became a Bajaj driver due to limited employment opportunities and has been vocal about youth unemployment and economic hardship in Somalia.
Government Response
Somali authorities have not yet issued a detailed public statement addressing Amnesty International’s call for her release or the specific allegations surrounding her detention.
Security officials have previously defended actions taken during protest-related incidents in Mogadishu, stating that measures are aimed at maintaining public order and preventing disruption of transport routes.
As of Tuesday, there has been no official confirmation of charges filed against Sacdiyo Bajaj.
Sacdiyo Moalim Ali, known locally as Sacdiyo Bajaj, became widely recognized in Mogadishu as a young woman working in the informal transport sector.
According to local accounts and rights organizations, she entered the Bajaj transport industry after struggling to secure formal employment following her university education.
She has also been identified by civil society groups as a vocal advocate for youth employment issues and economic hardship affecting young people in Somalia.
Her arrest in April came shortly after demonstrations by Bajaj operators who blocked major roads in Mogadishu to protest rising fuel costs and economic pressure affecting transport workers.
The Banadir Regional Court is expected to continue reviewing her case, though no clear timeline has been announced for a final ruling or formal charges.
Rights groups are expected to maintain pressure on Somali authorities regarding her detention and legal status.
Her legal team is also expected to seek clarification on the grounds of her continued detention.
The case has drawn attention from international human rights organizations, raising questions about detention practices in Somalia and the handling of protest-related arrests.
The prolonged detention without publicly disclosed charges has intensified scrutiny of due process protections in the country’s justice system.
The outcome of the case may influence how future protest-related arrests are handled, particularly involving youth activists and informal sector workers in Mogadishu.
The situation also reflects wider economic pressures affecting young people in Somalia, where unemployment continues to push many into informal work sectors such as Bajaj transport.