3.3. Composition of prison population in Mogadishu

As noted by expert Zakia Hussein, clan composition of the prison population is very difficult to ascertain but the general assumption is that it reflects the general composition of the population in Mogadishu - thus it is more likely to have a higher proportion of Hawiye, Rahanweyn, and Jareer clans than Isaaq and Darood for instance.244

Within this context, Abdirizak Farah Mohamed notes that the prison population in Mogadishu includes a significant number of individuals from minority communities, particularly the Jareer minority, as well as detainees originating from the South West State, including members of the Digil and Mirifle (Rahanweyn) clans. While these groups appear to be disproportionately represented in detention facilities, he indicates that this reflects broader social and structural patterns that may influence who is more likely to be arrested, detained, or lack adequate legal safeguards.245 Both Abdirizak Farah Mohamed and Zakia Hussen also maintain that there is a correlation between the prison population and the IDP population in Mogadishu.246

Sources point to two main reasons. On the one hand, IDP settlements are often locations where ‘serious crimes occur due to the vulnerability and poverty of the residents’, notes Abdirizak. As a result, police operations in these areas sometimes lead to the arrest of individuals ‘simply because they live in the camps’.247 In addition, many IDPs lack access to legal assistance. In the absence of free legal aid, accused persons must hire private lawyers, which most IDPs cannot afford. This contributes to a higher number of IDP residents being detained without the ability to effectively defend themselves in court.248 Along similar lines, Zakia notes that one of the strongest links between the IDP and the prison population is the rise of Ciyaal Weero (youth/street gangs). High unemployment rates amongst the IDP population means that many young IDPs, particularly in the districts in the periphery (Dayniile, Kahda), are recruited into neighbourhood gangs. Massive security operations targeting youth gangs would mean higher proportion of IDP youths arrested and convicted.249

On the other hand, Zakia Hussen points out that IDP populations are ‘at the crosshairs of government security operations against Al-Shabaab’ as well. IDPs from rural areas who fall under the militants’ control are often viewed more suspiciously. In particular, during the cordon-and-search operations, IDP youths who lack proper identification or clan protection in Mogadishu are more likely to be detained for long periods at the CID or Godka Jilacow until their backgrounds are verified.250 In 2024-2025, when Al-Shabaab had regained territory and reverted the 2022-2023 federal military gains, military operations switched from the battlefield to security sweeps in the capital with NISA conducting mass arrests to root out sleeper cells in Mogadishu - leading to delayed detentions and overcrowding at the Godka Jilacow detention centre.251

More in general, Abdirizak notes that a considerable number of detainees held in Mogadishu’s prisons are individuals accused of, or convicted of, terrorism-related offences. Their arrest stems from security operations conducted in areas previously influenced or controlled by Al Shabaab.252 Based on OPR, these areas would include Bay, Bakool, Hiraan, Middle and Lower Shabelle regions.253 Zakia, notes that, during the 2022-2023 SNA major offenses against Al-Shabaab, there was a significant spike in detentions, where thousands of suspects were captured and transferred to Mogadishu leading to prison overcrowding.254