(09-05-23) MOGADISHU – Eng. Zahra Abdikarim Ibrahim, the founder and CEO of SOSTEC Inc., was abruptly kidnapped from her workplace and unjustly incarcerated in the central prison in Mogadishu last Saturday, according to family sources and company employees. The shocking incident has sent ripples across the Somali tech industry, igniting concerns about data security and the misuse of power by authorities.
Despite being acquitted in court, Eng. Zahra was apprehended again by bodyguards of the Banadir police commander and returned to prison. As a breastfeeding mother, her pleas for access to her infant have been repeatedly denied, and she has been left to fast while in custody.
“SOSTEC Inc. is a beacon of technological innovation in Somalia, and Eng. Zahra’s wrongful imprisonment is a travesty of justice,” said Dr. Abdi Ahmed, an independent political analyst in Mogadishu. “This alarming situation calls into question the integrity of our security forces and judiciary.”
SOSTEC Inc., under Eng. Zahra’s leadership, has become the largest tech company in Somalia, distinguished by its female-led initiative. It offers services such as mobile application development, software development, website design and development, and web hosting. The company’s success has been recognized through numerous awards at home and abroad.
“This arrest raises crucial concerns about data security,” stated Abdirashid Mohamud, a cybersecurity expert based in Nairobi. “SOSTEC manages a significant portion of the domain in Somalia. The data they hold, which includes personal and corporate information, is invaluable. If it falls into the wrong hands, the consequences could be dire.”
An employee of SOSTEC, who spoke to Halqabsi News on condition of anonymity, said that agents of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) had asked Eng. Zahra to hand over client data, a request she declined. The data held by her company is invaluable, including personal and corporate information that could be misused if it falls into the wrong hands.
The arrest has been purportedly linked to a crime allegedly committed by Eng. Zahra’s brother. However, critics argue that this does not justify her detention. “Punishing an individual for another’s alleged crime is a gross violation of basic human rights,” said Dr. Fatima Ali, a human rights lawyer based in Mogadishu.
SOSTEC Technologies is known for its wide range of services, including mobile application development, software development, website design and development, and web hosting. The company’s unlawful targeting and the illegal detention of its CEO have sparked outrage and concern within the Somali business community and the international human rights community.
As Eng. Zahra’s ordeal continues, calls for her release and the protection of her company’s data have grown louder. It remains to be seen what actions the Somali government and international organisations will take to ensure her rights are upheld and her safety is guaranteed.
© Halqabsi News
