A Somali TikTok influencer who was deported from the United States after being accused of helping Al-Shabaab kidnap two French intelligence officers in 2009 may have been wrongly linked to the crime, new information shows.
Mahad Maxamud, a popular social media figure with over 450,000 followers, was arrested by U.S. immigration officers in Minnesota earlier this year and later deported. The White House described him on X as a “criminal illegal scumbag” involved in the kidnapping of French spies in Mogadishu.
But an investigation by AFP, supported by Somali and French intelligence officials, found no evidence connecting Maxamud to the abduction.
Accused Without Proof
U.S. authorities claimed Maxamud had ties to Al-Shabaab and assisted in the kidnapping of two French operatives posing as journalists at Mogadishu’s Sahafi Hotel in 2009. One of the abducted officers later escaped, while the second was killed during a failed rescue mission years later.
However, two Somali security agents confirmed they had never linked Maxamud to the case.
A French intelligence officer also stated clearly:
“Mahad Maxamud was not involved in the kidnapping.”
Maxamud himself said he was living in South Africa at the time of the abduction, only moving to the United States in 2022, where he worked for Amazon and Uber before his arrest.
Maxamud was deported in November along with seven other Somalis. Upon arrival in Mogadishu, he was greeted by cheering supporters and later met the President of Galmudug region, Ahmed Abdi Kariye.
Since the accusations surfaced, Maxamud’s popularity has only grown, gaining over 100,000 new followers in a few weeks.
Online Rivalries May Be Behind the Allegations
Some Somali TikTokers believe Maxamud’s troubles may have been caused by online rivals. Somali TikTok is known for intense “roasting battles” that often involve ethnic tensions and personal attacks.
Experts warn that TikTok disputes—even those filmed in the U.S.—can quickly trigger violence in Somalia’s clan-based society.
A relative of Maxamud said some competitors may have “gone to extreme lengths” to damage his reputation, including spreading false stories on little-known websites.
Maxamud says he blames the Trump administration, which recently made several harsh statements about Somali immigrants. President Trump called them “garbage” and said they should “go back where they came from.”
Despite this, the White House has not responded to requests for clarification about Maxamud’s case.
