(23-04-23) MOGADISHU – A video of Mogadishu’s Mayor, Yusuf Madale, conducting a public flogging on Liido Beach has gone viral, leading to outrage and criticism from many Somalis. The incident occurred during the late hours of the night when Mayor Madale rounded up a group of night-goers, including both men and women and flogged them in front of the public. Liido Beach is known to be a hotspot for tourists and there are areas famous for drug use and have been termed a “drug den” by the local populace.
The viral video has sparked intense debate on social media, with many condemning the mayor’s actions as extreme and likening his ideology to that of the terrorist group Al-Shabab. Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi posed a question about the legality of the flogging, asking, “whether the [flogging] is pursuant to a judicial pronouncement by a court of law or a tribunal and whether the mayor’s job description entails a facet of correctional services.”
Others have criticized Mayor Madale for his treatment of young people during the Eid festivities. One social media user pointed out that while politicians worldwide campaign for youth support, the unelected mayor of Mogadishu chose to humiliate and beat local youths for being out late on the beach. This has led to increased calls for a democratically elected mayor in Mogadishu and the establishment of a transparent governance system.
The public flogging has raised concerns about the state of human rights in Mogadishu and Somalia as a whole. As the city and the country work to rebuild and move away from the shadow of Al-Shabab’s extremist ideology, incidents like these raise questions about the progress made and the direction the current administration is taking. The people of Mogadishu and Somalia deserve elected officials who prioritise their rights, dignity, and well-being.
