Mogadishu,— Somalia’s Military Court has opened hearings in a high-profile case involving three men accused of orchestrating a sophisticated digital fraud scheme that robbed a small-scale trader of nearly $11,000.
The defendants — identified as Faysal Shire Dhaqane, Abdifitah Abdulkadir Abdulle, and Hassan Ahmed Aden — are accused of exploiting mobile money systems to defraud Raho Abdulle Mohamed, a market woman who sells kitchenware at Mogadishu’s Bakara Market.
Investigators allege that the group hacked into her Waafi mobile money account, linked to Hormuud Telecom, and withdrew $10,985 under false pretenses.
- Faysal Shire Dhaqane, the alleged ringleader, is reportedly a serving soldier in the Somali National Army.
- Raho Abdulle Mohamed, the victim, testified in person, explaining how she was manipulated by the suspects.
- Sugaale, a money exchanger based at Mogadishu’s Jubba junction, confirmed that he had converted part of the stolen funds into Somali shillings before the transaction was frozen.
Military prosecutors presented evidence including CCTV footage, recorded phone conversations, and seized mobile phones.
According to the victim, the men impersonated staff from Salaam Somali Bank, convincing her that her account had a technical error. They instructed her to enter a series of codes, which allowed them to siphon off her savings.
“After they pretended to be bank officials, they told me money had mistakenly left my account. They asked me to follow their instructions, and before I knew it, all my savings were gone,” Mohamed testified, nearly in tears.
After stealing the funds, prosecutors say the suspects laundered part of the money through currency exchange. Evidence shows $5,600 was converted into 162 million Somali shillings and packed into sacks before being taken away on motorcycles.
The scam took place earlier this year in Mogadishu, with hearings formally beginning on September 4, 2025 at the Military Court in Mogadishu, presided over by Judge Hassan Ali Nur “Shuute.”
The case has sparked public attention for two reasons:
- The lead suspect is a government soldier, raising concerns about corruption and abuse of uniformed authority.
- The victim is a vulnerable small-scale trader, reflecting the growing threat of digital fraud targeting low-income earners who rely heavily on mobile money systems for survival.
Somalia’s economy is deeply cashless, with mobile money services used in over 95% of transactions. That reliance, however, has also made the system a target for scams, fraud, and cyber-enabled crimes.
Defense lawyers argued that the evidence is not sufficient and requested the suspects’ release. The court, however, adjourned after reviewing preliminary evidence, with Judge Shuute announcing that a final verdict will be delivered at a later date.
The trial highlights both the vulnerabilities of Somalia’s mobile money system and the increasing sophistication of fraud networks that prey on ordinary citizens. As the court deliberates, the case could set an important precedent for how Somalia’s justice system handles digital financial crimes, especially when security personnel themselves are implicated.
Somalia is one of the most mobile money–dependent nations in the world, with services like Hormuud’s Waafi and EVC-Plus replacing cash transactions almost entirely. For most citizens, especially traders in Mogadishu’s sprawling markets, mobile money is safer than carrying cash in a country plagued by insecurity.
But experts warn that the same reliance has created a new battlefield for criminals. Fraudsters increasingly exploit weak consumer protections, poor digital literacy, and loopholes in verification systems. Victims are often elderly traders or women like Raho Mohamed, who depend on mobile savings to sustain their businesses.
The government has pledged to tighten oversight, but enforcement remains patchy. High-profile cases like this one highlight a stark reality: Somalia’s future financial stability will depend not only on expanding mobile money services, but also on building trust and protecting vulnerable users from digital predators.
