By Shire Abdi - Reporter
Somalia, 1 February 2026 Somali police have detained two prominent TikTok creators, accusing them of inciting the public and threatening national security, officials said on last night.
The two influencers, Mahad Maxamuud Hamarow, known online as “Garyaqaan,” and Yusuf Xasan Cali, known as “Yuu Boss,” were arrested in Mogadishu's Hodan district and are now in police custody.
Police said both men were apprehended for “public incitement and creating security disruption” and that their case would be forwarded to the appropriate court for formal charges.
Garyaqaan is followed by more than 458,000 users on TikTok, while Yusuf Xasan Cali has over 137,000 followers.
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The arrests come shortly after Garyaqaan returned to Somalia in November 2025, following his deportation from Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the United States.
This is not the first time Somali authorities have detained social media personalities. Similar actions have been taken in the past against influencers accused of various offenses, officials said.
The police have not provided details on the specific posts or actions that led to the arrests.
