Somali Migrant branded a criminal by the White House may have been wrongly accused, AFP investigation suggests

A Somali migrant deported from the United States and publicly labelled an “illegal scumbag” by the White House may have been wrongly accused of helping to kidnap two French intelligence officers in Mogadishu, according to an investigation by AFP. The man at the center of the controversy, Mahad Maxamud, returned to Somalia last month to an enthusiastic reception from supporters who insist he was targeted without evidence and may have been the victim of political pressure and online vendettas.

Before his arrest, Maxamud was a well known social media personality whose outspoken commentary and confrontational humor earned him more than four hundred fifty thousand followers on TikTok. His videos, which often satirize Somali politics, clan identity, and the experiences of the Somali diaspora, made him one of the most recognizable Somali content creators abroad.

Maxamud’s life changed abruptly in May when he was detained in Minnesota by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. His case drew national attention in October when the White House posted a message on X describing him as a “criminal illegal scumbag” who had taken part in the 2009 kidnapping of two French officials in Mogadishu. The two men, Marc Aubriere and Denis Allex, were working for the French government while posing as journalists during a period when the extremist group Al Shabaab controlled much of the Somali capital. Aubriere escaped several months later, while Allex was killed during an unsuccessful French military attempt to free him more than three years after his capture.

The White House accusation stunned many in Somalia, where Maxamud had never been associated with any armed group. Two Somali security officials told AFP they had no record of his involvement in the kidnapping and had never encountered any intelligence linking him to Al Shabaab. A French security source familiar with the long running investigation by the Directorate General for External Security was equally direct, stating that “Mahad Maxamud was not involved in the kidnapping.”

Speaking to AFP after his return to Mogadishu, Maxamud firmly denied the allegations. He said he had moved to South Africa a year before the kidnapping took place and insisted he had no contact with any militant organization. He later travelled to the United States in 2022, where he worked for Amazon and Uber before his arrest. He described a dramatic encounter in which “many men with covered faces and wearing vests put a gun to my head and arrested me,” saying he still did not understand how his name became associated with one of the most widely studied abductions in Somali history.

Maxamud was deported to Mogadishu through Kenya in November along with seven other Somalis. He blamed President Donald Trump for the public accusations against him, especially in light of a speech in which Trump referred to Somali migrants as “garbage” who should “go back to where they came from.” Maxamud said his experience reflected a broader problem that affects both Somalis and others who have arrived in the United States seeking a new start.

In Somalia, the allegations have only increased his fame. Since his return he has posted polished videos portraying himself as a triumphant figure welcomed by crowds. In one video he steps from an aircraft to cheering supporters, while another shows him riding through Mogadishu in a sport utility vehicle surrounded by admirers. His following on TikTok has grown by more than one hundred thousand since the White House post, and he has been received by the president of his home region of Galmudug, Ahmed Abdi Kariye.

Despite the celebratory scenes, some Somali observers believe Maxamud may have been targeted by online rivals. Several obscure websites published articles linking him to the kidnapping, but these appear to be run by Somali content creators living abroad who have feuded with Maxamud online. One of the most cited sites, Suna Times, is operated by a Netherlands based TikTok figure named Dahir Alasow, who is known for his online disputes with other Somali influencers.

Maxamud’s nephew, Ibrahim Ahmed Hersi, said the accusations may have stemmed from jealousy. “He had a huge impact online and some envied him and possibly went to extreme lengths to get him in trouble,” he said.

Researchers note that Somali TikTok culture is intensely competitive. Content creators frequently engage in public verbal battles that involve mockery, personal attacks, and clan based insults. These confrontations can have serious real world consequences in Somalia’s fragile clan driven society. Jethro Norman of the Danish Institute for International Studies said that “a TikTok video filmed in Minnesota can trigger armed clan mobilisation in Somalia within hours,” illustrating how quickly online disputes can escalate.

The White House did not respond to requests for comment. Meanwhile, questions continue to grow about how political rhetoric, unreliable online claims, and incomplete intelligence assessments may have combined to shape the case against Maxamud, and how such forces can determine the fate of individuals caught between digital influence and international law enforcement.