By Abdijaliil osman
Host of Abdijaliil Show

The Somali Region has plunged into its darkest period since the collapse of the previous regime. Hopes had once been high that under Mustafe Cagjar’s leadership, the long-standing injustices, oppression, and abuses would finally come to an end. Yet today, the people find themselves facing conditions even worse than before.

Once again, the blood of innocent civilians is being spilled in Jigjiga. Neighborhoods that once symbolized life and community have been turned into makeshift prisons where injustice reigns supreme.

On Sunday 20th April, a 16-year-old boy — Shaafici Abdikarin Ali — who had committed no crime, tragically died in Jigjiga after enduring 40 harrowing days of torture, starvation, and constant intimidation while held in Haabaana Prison. Under the administration of Mustafe Cagjar, Shaafici fell into the merciless hands of a government devoid of conscience. After 40 days of suffering, he was transferred to the Karamara Hospital, only to die while still handcuffed to a police stretcher.

Security forces coerced Shaafici’s family into burying him immediately and forbade them from speaking publicly. Their right to demand an investigation into his death was buried alongside him.

What happened next?

The Police Commissioner, Cabdi Cali Siyaad (Gafeydhe), displaying arrogance and disdain, told the grieving family:  “The boy simply died. No one will be brought to justice.”

These words did not merely wound Abshir’s family; they exposed a grim truth: the complete collapse of the rule of law in the Somali Region. They are undeniable evidence that the government is devoid of conscience, compassion, and respect for basic human dignity.

How does a young man die while in peaceful custody?

It is the question on everyone’s lips. The answer is too horrific to articulate: Abshir’s death stems from practices that are alien to both our Islamic faith and the noble traditions of our Somali culture.

The Somali Regional Government has degenerated into a tyrannical regime reminiscent of the people of Lut — a system stripped of divine fear, moral compass, respect, and humanity. It was this corrupt system that directly caused Abshir’s death.

Reports indicate that thousands of young people, many under the age of twenty, are currently detained in Havanaana Prison under similarly alarming conditions. Parents across the region are increasingly gripped by fear, especially after Abshir’s case became public — the first chilling glimpse into the hidden atrocities unfolding within these prisons.

Abshir was buried quietly. Yet the tragedy did not end there.

The Mustafe Cagjar administration, responsible for this heinous act, unleashed a wave of repression, targeting anyone who dared express sorrow, demanded justice, or even sympathized with the grieving family.

At least 12 individuals, including journalists, community leaders, and politicians, have been arbitrarily detained in Jigjiga.

This is the true face of Mustafe Cagjar’s regime in 2025:

• Over 150 clandestine detention houses have been established to torture dissenters and those seen as obstacles to the regime’s ambitions.
  
• Governance has devolved into banditry, ruled by a furious, vengeful leader.

Under this system:

• Speaking out leads to imprisonment.
  
• Remaining silent leads to suppression.
  
• Shedding blood leads to bodies quietly “disappearing.”

Today, the abuses have crossed every imaginable red line.

On Friday, to divert public outrage, regional security forces raided the office of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) in Jigjiga, disrupting a peaceful meeting organized by the Ogaden Women’s Union (OWU). The assault led to the arrest and torture of several female activists, underlining once again the brutal nature of the regime.

This incident clearly demonstrates that Mustafe Cagjar’s administration — a puppet government devoid of legitimacy — is in its final, desperate days. It is imperative that the people of the Somali Region rise to reclaim their dignity and freedom.

Returning to Abshir’s case

Later that Friday afternoon, Mustafe Cagjar addressed the widespread allegations against his government. Instead of taking responsibility or offering solutions, he chose mockery and deflection, adding further insult to the victims’ families and those unlawfully imprisoned.

In a Facebook post, Mustafe dismissed the allegations as “fabrications” by “disgraced individuals” trying to “wash away their shame.”

His statements, widely circulated and heavily criticized, were seen as a callous joke made at the expense of the bloodshed, suffering, and mourning families of Jigjiga.

Even worse, Mustafe taunted the public with the chilling words:
 “Go sit by the graveyards and count the bodies being brought in.”

This reckless, heartless remark exposes the cruelty and moral bankruptcy at the heart of Mustafe Cagjar’s regime. It lays bare the fact that this government has utterly abandoned the values of governance, compassion, and Somali decency.

The Mustafe Cagjar administration now faces mounting accusations of retracing the dark path of former leader Abdi Illey — a reign marked by oppression, human rights violations, and tribalism.

Citizens across Jigjiga and other towns report:

• A severe economic decline under Mustafe’s rule.
  
• Inflation skyrocketed fivefold.
  
• A collapse of investment and business opportunities.
  
• National wealth being siphoned abroad.
  
• Unprecedented levels of youth unemployment.
• Rising inter-clan conflicts.

One civil society representative aptly summarized:
 “Mustafe appears to be a bitter, angry leader seeking revenge rather than genuine reform. Instead of listening to his people’s cries, he has chosen the path of intimidation and repression.”

As the situation deteriorates, growing calls are emerging from human rights organizations and community leaders for both national and international attention to be focused urgently on the Somali Region.

They remind us that true and lasting peace cannot be achieved through fear and tyranny. It requires justice, dialogue, and inclusive governance.

Abdijaliil osman
Independent Journalist
Host of Abdijaliil Show
Email:abdijaliilosman@gmail.com