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Federal lawmakers from Somalia’s Southwest State have spoken out strongly against the recent detention of several businessmen from their region in northern Galkayo. They called the incident discriminatory and harmful to the unity of the Somali people.
According to Member of Parliament Abdirashid Jilley, a group of businessmen from Southwest Somalia were held for three days by a sub-clan in northern Galkayo. This was in response to an accusation that someone from the Southwest had killed a man from Galkayo, which is located in southern Somalia. MP Jilley criticized the action, saying the arrest of unrelated individuals was unfair and unjust.
“The accusation was vague and targeted people who had nothing to do with the crime,” said Jilley. “There are more than 200 clans in the Southwest. When a crime happens, only the person or the specific group involved should be questioned—not the entire community.”
Jilley warned that punishing an entire group for the actions of one person could lead to more division among Somali communities. He pointed out that citizens from Puntland, the region where Galkayo is located, have lived peacefully in Southwest State for decades without facing similar treatment.
“All Somalis live together in different parts of the country. We must protect that unity and continue living side by side,” he said.
Jilley called on Puntland authorities to take immediate action and ensure those responsible for the arrests are held accountable. He also urged Puntland police to carry out a full investigation.
Another lawmaker from Southwest State, Mohamed Barre Mohamud, also condemned the incident. He described the arrest of Digil and Mirifle community members—many of them respected elders and businessmen—as both illegal and immoral.
“I strongly condemn this act. It goes against Islamic teachings and Somali culture,” said MP Mohamud. “Our religion and traditions do not support punishing innocent people.”
Photos shared widely on social media since Tuesday show more than a dozen men, identified as Digil and Mirifle community members, tied up by their hands and feet. They were reportedly being held in poor conditions in what appeared to be makeshift prisons inside houses.
These images have caused widespread anger among the public. Many people have raised concerns about the use of clan-based justice and the actions of local authorities in Galkayo.
So far, Puntland officials have not released any public statement about the arrests. The silence from regional leaders has added to the growing frustration and calls for justice.
Galkayo is a divided city that lies on the border between Puntland in the north and Galmudug in the south. It has a long history of clan tensions, but recent years have seen efforts to reduce violence and promote peace. However, incidents like this threaten to reverse that progress.
Lawmakers from Southwest State are urging all Somali leaders to work together to stop such practices and promote unity across regions and clans.
“Collective punishment will only lead to more division,” MP Jilley said. “We must focus on justice, fairness, and the shared values that keep our country together.