Somalia Cabinet Removes Police Chief Sulub Ahmed Firin Amid Human Trafficking and Sex Scandal

by: Horn Observer Contributor | 26 September 2024 13:37

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Somalia Cabinet Removes Police Chief Sulub Ahmed Firin Amid Human Trafficking and Sex Scandal

MOGADISHU, Somalia (HORN OBSERVER) — Somalia's Federal Government has dismissed Police Commissioner Sulub Ahmed Firin, replacing him amid mounting scandals of human trafficking, child sex trafficking and corruption.

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Sulub Ahmed Firin: The 'Nice chauffeur who would escort child prostitutes, the deputy minister, and the police chief of Somalia.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (HORN OBSERVER) — Somalia's Federal Government has dismissed Police Commissioner Sulub Ahmed Firin, replacing him amid mounting scandals of human trafficking, child sex trafficking and corruption.

The federal cabinet of ministers announced Sulub’s removal in a weekly meeting held on Thursday morning 26 September, appointing Asad Osman, known as ‘Diana’ and former commander of the Puntland Security Force (PSF), as the new police chief.

Sulub, who has served as police commissioner since January 2023, has now been reassigned as deputy minister of transport, a position that will likely give him protection from prosecution, according to insiders at the Prime Minister's office.

The cabinet statement described his removal as a simple "replacement,” without offering further explanation. However, sources say the move comes in response to increasing internal and public pressure.

Allegations of Human Trafficking and Corruption

Sulub’s tenure has been plagued by allegations of misconduct, including involvement in human trafficking and a scandal surrounding the sale of police ranks. Reports from security sources suggest that during Sulub’s time in office, police credentials were being sold, with some 280 individuals, including members of clan militias and defectors from militant groups, receiving ranks in July 2024 alone.

The practice has raised concerns about the infiltration of 'suspected' criminal elements into the police force, as many recruits were allegedly involved, or suspected, in illicit activities such as drug smuggling, arms trading, and human trafficking.

"It's become a pay-to-play system,” one source noted.

When questioned about the sale of police credentials, police spokesman Abdifatah Aden refused to comment, stating that he was "not authorized to speak on sensitive matters.”

Further controversy surrounded the involvement of police officers in a human trafficking operation. In June and July this year, three underage girls were rescued moments before they were trafficked through Mogadishu Airport.

Police involvement in their attempted trafficking has sparked outrage, particularly as it followed reports of other instances where police personnel and immigration officers exploited their positions for illegal purposes.

One recent case under scrutiny is the Somali police officers invited to attend an Interpol meeting in Lyon, France, last month, reportedly fled to other European countries.

Sources say it is now clear that the "fake police officers" have been smuggled under the guise of official police duties.

This has prompted Italy to announce, Wednesday, the suspension of the visa application process for Somali passport holders applying for Schengen visas. In July, the Turkish Embassy in Mogadishu also suspended the issuance of visas for holders of Somali civil servant passports due to the misuse of both civil servant and diplomatic passports for human smuggling.

Sulub’s Troubled Past

With his exact date of birth disputed by various documents, Sulub’s career has been marred by controversy long before his appointment as police chief. He began working as a 'nice young' chauffeur for General Bashir Jama ‘Goobe’ in 2013, according to the friends we interviewed, a relationship that enabled him to rise through the ranks despite lacking a formal background.

Until today, his profile on the police website states no reference to past law enforcement and educational background rather than being 'a distinguished Somali leader and security expert.'

Over the years, Goobe has held several significant positions, including serving as the Chief of NISA from May 2013 to July 2014 and as the Commander of the Custodial Corps from February 2018 to August 2019, a role in which he oversaw detainees raped at the Mogadishu Central Prison.

Most recently, he has been appointed as the Minister of Family and Human Rights sparking concerns by women groups and lawmakers.

According to multiple sources, Sulub’s rise was aided by his involvement in illicit activities on behalf of Goobe, including "procuring underage girls for the general's sex pleasure".

A former aide from Goobe’s household said, "Sulub was responsible for bringing girls to the general’s residence on his car. These were underage girls young as 13-yr-old, 14-yr-old to 16-yr-old in exchange for money and food.”

"There are networks of police, pimps and even police who know where to find these girls with an offer," the aide says.

One journalist recalled an incident where a young girl from an IDP camp near Aden Adde Airport was allegedly raped at Goobe’s home but was too afraid to report the incident due to social stigma as a local NGO staff struggled to treat the girl who was 15-yr-old.

However, the aide and as corroborated by a former guard stated, the situation took a troubling turn when Sulub began bringing boys instead of girls for sex. The discussion about those incidents quickly spread among the officers and staff at General Bashir's residence, with claims that "the General was bored with girls or exhibited gender fluidity."

In 2020, Sulub fled Somalia and exiled in Uganda after being accused of overseeing violent evictions in Mogadishu and being linked to the death of a detainee while serving as the city’s deputy police commander.

Upon his return in 2021, Sulub faced challenges in securing a parliamentary position through his connections with Jubbaland authorities. However, he swiftly formed a friendship with Hamze Abdi Barre, a fellow clansman who a year later took over as the new prime minister.

The two men's bond was further solidified by President Ahmed Madobe, who preferred to stay at Sulub’s two-story mansion during his visits to Mogadishu. The mansion overlooks the police command headquarters in the Wardhiigley neighborhood, near Villa Somalia.

In August 2022, during Prime Minister Hamze's first cabinet appointment, Sulub was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Air and Land Transport. However, tensions between Sulub and his minister over payments and responsibilities became increasingly frequent, leading Prime Minister Hamze to reassign Sulub to the position of Chief of Police five months later.

Reassignment Seen as Protection

While Sulub’s reassignment to the Ministry of Transport has been officially described as a standard government reshuffle, insiders suggest it may be a strategic move to shield him from prosecution.

Despite the multiple allegations, Sulub and his former mentor General Goobe have refused to respond to requests for comment.