Mahad Mohamud is slowly adjusting to life back in Mogadishu after being deported from the United States, a return he says has left him anxious and constantly watching his back.
The 36-year-old, known online as Garyaqaan—a Somali word meaning “judge”—built a strong following on TikTok while living abroad, attracting nearly half a million followers. His content, which often focused on clan politics and government issues, earned him both admiration and enemies.
Mahad was deported from Minneapolis about five weeks ago, just as winter was setting in. In Somalia, he now faces heat, insecurity and the fear of militant reprisals. He says he has received death threats from the Islamist group al-Shabaab, allegedly linked to his outspoken defence of the Somali government on social media.
While some US government-linked social media accounts previously labelled him a “criminal illegal,” Mahad strongly denies allegations linking him to the kidnapping of French officials in Mogadishu. He maintains he was never charged or convicted and says the case was dismissed after questioning by US authorities.
According to Mahad, his troubles escalated after a rival TikToker allegedly leaked his address to immigration officials. He says Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested him earlier this year, citing illegal entry into the US and the dropped kidnapping allegation.
Mahad’s journey to America began more than a decade ago. After leaving Somalia, he lived in South Africa until 2021, when he says he was attacked during a xenophobic incident. He later travelled through Brazil and crossed into the US through Mexico without documentation.
After briefly being detained, he was released with a work permit while his asylum case was under review. He settled in Minneapolis, where he worked as an Uber driver and supported himself through TikTok livestreams.
Despite citing threats from al-Shabaab as part of his asylum claim, US authorities rejected his application, ruling that he would not face serious danger if returned to Somalia. Mahad says he then spent months in detention awaiting deportation.
His removal from the US involved a long, tightly controlled journey through several countries before he was finally flown to Mogadishu. By then, he says, he had emotionally prepared himself for the outcome.
Back home, Mahad has reunited with his three children for the first time in a decade—an emotional moment he says he cherishes deeply. Still, he admits he would rather be in the US, citing persistent security fears in Somalia.
Since his return, he has taken extra precautions, living in a heavily guarded home and limiting his movements. He declined to share details of the threats he has received, saying public disclosure could endanger his life.
Mahad’s case is part of a broader wave of deportations affecting Somali immigrants in the US. Recent political rhetoric and policy shifts have heightened anxiety within Somali communities, particularly in Minnesota, which hosts the largest Somali population in America.
Several Somali migrants told reporters they are now living in hiding, avoiding work and public spaces out of fear of arrest. Others deported to Somalia say they are struggling to rebuild their lives in a country with limited opportunities and ongoing insecurity.
For Mahad, the future remains uncertain. While his online popularity offers some protection and influence, he says the fear of violence never fully fades.
“I’ve survived many journeys,” he reflects, “but this one may be the hardest yet.”