After 122 Days Behind Bars, “Sacdiya Bajaaj” Walks Free

Mogadishu (WDN) — After spending 122 days in detention, nearly four months behind bars , Somali social media personality Sacdiya Macallin Ali, widely known as “Sacdiya Bajaaj,” has regained her freedom after the Banadir Regional Court of Appeal overturned a three-year prison sentence imposed against her by a lower court.

The Appeals Court ruled that the earlier sentence was not consistent with the law, effectively bringing Sacdiya’s prolonged detention to an end. Her release comes after months of mounting public concern over her case, which became a powerful flashpoint in Somalia’s increasingly contentious debate over freedom of expression, political accountability, and the limits of government power.

Sacdiya’s detention drew particular attention because of her outspoken presence on social media. Opposition politicians, civil society groups, and supporters repeatedly demanded her release, arguing that her imprisonment was unjust and that citizens should not face criminal prosecution simply for expressing criticism of government policies or alleged wrongdoing. The case has therefore become larger than one individual.

It has raised uncomfortable questions about the shrinking space for public criticism in Somalia at a time when President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government faces growing accusations from opponents over corruption, political repression, and the use of state institutions against critics. Among the most explosive issues in Mogadishu is the continuing controversy surrounding public land.