Private
On 12 April, Sadia Moalim Ali, a tuktuk (rickshaw) driver and social activist, was arrested in Mogadishu, by officers of the National Intelligence Agency. Sadia was arrested for her activism – both on social media and in peaceful protests. On 25 June 2026 she, was sentenced to three years imprisonment. Sadia is being targeted and persecuted by the Somali authorities solely for speaking out and for participating in peaceful protest, in a community where women do not traditionally speak up. Amnesty International spoke to her from her prison cell where she is serving her sentence. Amnesty International has been campaigning for Sadia Moalim Ali to be immediately and unconditionally released through its
Urgent Action
and
Joint Letter
.
How have you been coping since being sentenced to three years in prison?
Not much has changed for me since my sentencing. I believe that my conviction and the violations against me are politically motivated. I feel that what has happened to me is an act of retaliation for speaking up about the challenges that Somali people face every day. To my knowledge, this is the first time in Somalia’s history that a Somali woman and mother has been arbitrarily arrested, detained, convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment for solely speaking up openly about issues affecting her community.
What motivated you to speak publicly about issues affecting ordinary Somalis?
I studied midwifery and worked hard to complete my degree despite significant financial challenges. Since I graduated, I have tried to look for employment several times in Mogadishu (the capital of Somalia). I have struggled to find opportunities. As a woman, I often felt excluded and discriminated against. I was told that because I came from a minority clan, my chances of finding a job were limited in a system shaped by Somalia’s 4.5 clan structure, a clan-based power sharing system that often influences access to political and public sec
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