MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Minister of Justice, Hassan Moalim, and the newly appointed Prisons Commandant, Gen. Hamud, visited the residence of former prisons chief Gen. Mahad Abdirahman in Mogadishu on Wednesday, amid heightened security following his recent dismissal.
The high-level visit comes as armed personnel from the elite Haramcad police unit remain deployed around Mahad’s home, where he has effectively been placed under house arrest, according to security sources and individuals familiar with the situation.
Officials discussed arrangements for the formal handover of command of the Somali Prisons Service, a process expected to take place next Saturday, sources told Shabelle Media. The transition is viewed as a key step in maintaining stability within the country’s correctional system, which has long faced challenges related to management, security, and political interference.
Despite the planned transfer of authority, uncertainty remains over Mahad’s legal status. Federal authorities have not publicly clarified whether he will be released after the handover or continue to face restrictions. People close to the former commander say no official communication has been provided regarding his fate.
The situation has drawn attention from political figures and analysts, some of whom believe Mahad’s detention may be linked to broader federal operations in Southwest State, where tensions between regional and central authorities have periodically escalated. They say the outcome of his case could signal the government’s approach to balancing security control and political dissent.
The meeting marks a rare direct engagement between senior federal officials and a high-profile detainee, underscoring the sensitivity of internal security matters in Somalia. It also highlights ongoing concerns about governance, rule of law and the role of security forces in political disputes.
Somalia’s federal government has not issued an official statement on the visit or the conditions surrounding Mahad’s detention.
