MOGADISHU, Somalia — Mahad Maxamud, a Somali TikTok star deported from the United States and accused of involvement in the kidnapping of two French intelligence officers in Mogadishu, may have been wrongly implicated, according to Somali and French sources.

Maxamud, who returned to Somalia last month, received a hero’s welcome from supporters. He is one of the most popular social media figures in Somalia, boasting over 450,000 TikTok followers, with content often featuring outspoken commentary and “roasting” rivals online.

US Allegations and Deportation

US authorities linked Maxamud to Al-Shabaab, an insurgent group with ties to Al-Qaeda, and alleged he was involved in the 2009 abduction of French agents Marc Aubriere and Denis Allex from the Sahafi Hotel in Mogadishu. While Aubriere escaped, Allex was executed during a failed French rescue operation years later.

In May 2025, Maxamud was detained in Minnesota by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The White House referred to him on social media as a “criminal illegal scumbag” connected to the kidnapping, a claim Maxamud and multiple sources now dispute.

Evidence Suggests Possible Innocence

Several Somali and French intelligence officials told AFP that there is no verified connection between Maxamud and the kidnapping. A French DGSE security source stated unequivocally: “Mahad Maxamud was not involved in the kidnapping.”

Maxamud himself maintains his innocence, saying he had moved to South Africa a year before the incident and later to the US in 2022, where he worked for Amazon and Uber.

Return to Somalia and Rising Popularity

Upon returning to Mogadishu, Maxamud’s social media presence surged. He posted videos showcasing a hero’s welcome, including crowds greeting him at the airport and traveling in a vehicle through cheering fans. Since the White House tweet, he has gained 100,000 new followers.

He was even received by Ahmed Abdi Kariye, president of his home region, Galmudug, highlighting his celebrity status in Somalia.

Role of Online Rivalries

Some observers believe that Maxamud may have been targeted by online rivals within Somalia’s TikTok community. In the competitive environment of Somali TikTok, content creators often engage in aggressive “face-off” battles, using jokes and insults to win followers and gifts from fans.

These rivalries can sometimes escalate into real-world threats, particularly in Somalia’s clan-based society. A Danish Institute for International Studies researcher noted: “A TikTok video filmed in Minnesota can trigger armed clan mobilisation in Somalia within hours.”

Maxamud’s family suspects that his online success may have prompted rivals to fabricate links to Al-Shabaab in order to discredit him internationally.