Abdi Hirsi, a young man from Somali Regional State, was reportedly detained in Jigjiga for two months without being brought before a court. his detention raises serious concerns about due process and compliance with applicable Ethiopian law and the legal framework governing the Somali Regional State.
Mustafa Omer, President of the Somali Regional State, has previously stated that people in the region should not be detained for expressing their opinions.
Hirsi was reportedly released from prison yesterday. Following his apparent release, he posted a brief message on Facebook saying, *“Asc, waan idin salaamay”* — a Somali greeting meaning, “Peace be upon you; greetings to everyone.”
However, according to the account provided, he was subsequently returned to detention for reasons that have not been publicly explained.
Hirsi is a person with a disability who, according to the account, has been detained on more than seven separate occasions. These detentions are alleged to be linked to his Facebook posts expressing views that differ from those of the regional government.
His case raises broader questions about freedom of expression, arbitrary detention, and the treatment of government critics in Somali Regional State.
Abdi Hirsi is among the many young people, politicians, traditional elders, and other members of society who are alleged to have faced detention for expressing dissenting views during Mustafa Omer’s tenure as regional president.
**The central question remains:** How can a brief moment of apparent freedom end in renewed detention, without a publicly stated reason?
The circumstances surrounding Hirsi’s reported re-arrest, the legal basis for his detention, and whether he has been granted access to legal representation remain matters requiring independent verification and clarification from the relevant authorities.
