In brief
Mahad Mohamud, a former Uber driver in the US, was recently deported to Somalia, where he must navigate the dangers posed by jihadist threats, including from the group al-Shabab. Previously a social media star in the United States, Mahad's journey home is marked by his struggle for safety, reuniting with his children after a decade, and facing ongoing threats due to his past online presence. As he tries to rebuild his life, he reflects on the stark differences between his experiences in the US and the reality he has returned to in Mogadishu.
Mahad Mohamud is slowly readjusting to the heat, chaos and tension of Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, after being deported from the US city of Minneapolis last month just as winter was closing in there. Part of Somalia's lucrative TikTok roasting sub-culture, Mahad attracted almost half a million followers while he was abroad, defending his clan's interests. But he was deemed a 'criminal illegal scumbag' by the White House-linked account, which accused him of kidnapping French officials—a claim he denies. After spending a decade in the US and enduring detention by ICE, Mahad now finds himself under the threat of al-Shabab, as he tries to navigate life in a homeland filled with challenges.
