From Germany, war influencers incite violence in Somalia – DW – 07/03/2025
Ayub Abdirizak — or "Kabtan Ayub," as he is known to his social media followers — can easily reach hundreds of thousands of people with his posts on TikTok and Facebook. His messages often carry a blend of hatred for rival clans in Somalia and incitement to violence against them.
And he built his social media career in Germany, where he arrived in 2017 and remained for about seven years, operating under the radar of authorities while encouraging bloodshed back home.
"Take the guns and fight," Ayub urges his followers in a video he posted in late 2022. Offering what he calls practical advice from personal experience, he tells fighters to climb tall buildings to spot enemies at a distance. "Shoot any person on the highway once you see they are wearing a military uniform," he says. And it's not just the military who is the enemy in this scenario, Ayub tells his audience: People who refuse to let them enter buildings to take their rooftop positions should be "shot on the forehead" and left with a "bullet mark on his face."
As now uncovered by DW's investigative team in collaboration with the German public broadcaster ARD, German authorities eventually took notice of Ayub's efforts at incitement. We set out to trace his path — and study the destructive influence he wields. The investigation also examined the reach of another war influencer who continues to use Germany as a haven to call for violence back in Somalia.
Somalia has grappled with armed conflict and volatile politics for decades. With the federal government constantly fighting the militant Al-Shabab group for more than a decade, longer-running deep-rooted conflicts between the clans that dominate Somali society have complicated efforts to build national unity and institute effective governance. Amid such instability, several Somali regions have forged their own political paths.
Ayub's story is closely tied to the often-violent rivalry between two regions in northern Somalia. Puntland is governed by President Said Abdullahi Deni of the Majerteen clan, whom Ayub supports in his videos. Neighboring Somaliland declared independence in 1991, although the self-proclaimed republic failed to gain international recognition. Violence frequently erupts on the border between Puntland and Somaliland.
Ayub seems to take pride in detailing the violence of his youth in Somalia for his online followers. "I left my family when I was 13 years old and took a gun," Ayub, who is now in his late 30s, says in a YouTube video. He tells viewers that he fought in more than 30 battles when he "used to be a clan militant."
Several sources, including a contact close to the current Puntland administration, told DW and ARD that Ayub was among the hijackers who held ships and hostages for ransom during the peak years of piracy off the Horn of Africa. Two seamen on a ship that was under the control of pirates from March 2010 through December 2012 told us their captors included a man called Ayub, who was tall and slim and spoke with a deep, resonant voice.
As DW and ARD were able to confirm, Ayub first entered Germany in 2017.
He applied for asylum, but his application was rejected in 2020. However, he was allowed to stay as a "tolerated" refugee, a status that comes with fewer rights than recognized asylum.
According to his Facebook page, Ayub lived in Hamburg. Several short TikTok clips posted in 2022 show him in the city and elsewhere in northern Germany with friends.
But events would soon draw him back to Somalia.
On February 6, 2023, violence erupted in Las Anod, the capital of the Sool region. The dominant Dhulbahante clan, which has long sought to separate from Somaliland, seems to have the backing of the Puntland regional administration in its efforts.
Hundreds of people were killed in the initial clashes; hundreds of thousands more were displaced.
As a tolerated foreign national, Ayub was not officially permitted to travel freely. However, in November 2023, he posted a clip of a trip to Somalia, where he was greeted and cheered by supporters. One video, published on November 10, 2023, features Ayub alongside a group of fighters, sitting on a military vehicle and firing a Russian-developed anti-aircraft cannon.
In fact, research by ARD and DW found that Ayub made at least one round trip to Somalia while residing in Germany. The last video showing him in Germany was uploaded to his TikTok in July 2024. He is seen walking in fatigues past the town hall of Neubrandenburg in the northeasternmost state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
In late 2024, Ayub left Germany and returned to Somalia. DW and ARD were able to confirm that he has since joined the Puntland Defense Force.
At least one other Somali war influencer continues to incite hatred from within Germany. Yacqwub Siyaad preaches violence to more than half a million followers on Facebook and about 230,000 on TikTok.
In several videos posted in 2023, Yacqwub, who shares Ayub's cause, encourages his followers to attack their opponents: "Shell them day and night and then at last overrun their camp, cut off their heads."
In another, he says: "These pigs are mine. I will drive them out of their holes and dance on their corpses." He calls on viewers to "go to war" and "slaughter the enemy." Being wounded or even killed, he claims, "is happiness."
Yacqwub openly expresses his homophobia: "Kill those creatures. Remove them from society. Flog them."
Confirmed by DW and ARD's research, Yacqwub resides near Düsseldorf. He openly expresses hostility toward Germany. In a TikTok video, he says he lives "among infidels in the country of infidels."
Like Ayub, Yacqwub has traveled to Somalia since moving to Germany. In the summer of 2023, a few months into the Las Anod conflict, he shared a picture of himself wearing a uniform alongside armed fighters. Another image shows him holding an AK-47. And, in a video clip, he is meeting a group of combatants, likely in one of the region's desert areas.
Currently, he is back in Germany. Returning to Somalia does not appear to be a viable option for Yacqwub — he would risk being arrested upon arrival. In January 2025, a Puntland military court sentenced him in absentia to 10 years in prison on charges of using his YouTube channel to spread disinformation. The circumstances that led to this verdict are unclear.
Influencers such as Ayub and Yacqwub play a "very destructive role" in Somalia and have a "major impact" on the situation, said Moustafa Ahmad, a security analyst based in Somaliland. He describes their online activity as "information warfare."
In addition to spreading hate messages, Yacqwub uses his social media platforms to raise money within the Somali diaspora. He calls on his female followers to "sell your gold and donate the money."
Jamal Osman, a Somali journalist working for international media, said war influencers had sometimes raised tens of thousands of euros within an hour — money that "is often used to buy weapons."
Osman describes Ayub as charismatic: "He knows what buttons to press to provoke people into action."
The influencers are known in the Somali community in Germany. DW and ARD talked to one Somali who has been living in Germany for several years and has been monitoring Ayub's and Yacqwub's social media activities for a long time. He said there was a simple reason why they can post virtually anything they want without fear of the authorities: "They speak Somali — and hardly anyone understands it." He said anyone who did would still be unlikely to report the influencers. "Most people are afraid of them".
Their fame has even made Ayub and Yacqwub sought-after interlocutors within the Somali diaspora, where they are seen by some as effective at attracting attention to causes and mobilizing support.
During his time in Germany, Ayub appears to have maintained a good relationship with Mohamed Abdulahi, the chairman of the nonprofit Somali-European Cooperation e.V. (SEKO). In a video, Abdulahi expresses his deep appreciation for Ayub's contributions to the organization's success. "I salute you, Kaptan Ayub," Abdulahi says. "Thank you so very much." In another clip, published in 2022, Abdulahi is talking to both Ayub and Yacqwub, sitting right between them. When introducing Ayub, Abdulahi refers to him as a "role model who plays a major role to assist the Somali people."
ARD and DW presented Abdulahi with several examples of the influencers' efforts at incitement. He admitted the content was "brutal" and "not good," and that this needed to be investigated and condemned. He said, however, that he was "not the one to judge" and that one must also take into account that these statements were made in the context of war, where there are always different sides and perspectives. He said repeatedly that he had not seen those videos before.
Abdulahi called his relationship with Ayub "friendship" and said, "You can just work really well with him." He said SEKO had approached Ayub and Yacqwub in the past to "ask them for support in reaching people so they can make an announcement for us."
When asked whether he could imagine asking for their support in the future, Abdulahi was evasive. After repeated questioning, he acknowledged that, having watched the videos, it "is not good to keep receiving support from them."
Back in Somalia, Ayub continues to maintain an active presence across his social media platforms. In one video, he says he returned "although I could have a nice life in Germany. My family lives in Germany, and if I don't work there, I receive welfare." This year, he has posted several photos of himself wearing the uniform of the Puntland Defense Force. "I swear I will give you $20,000," he says in a video posted in April. "I pledge that amount of $20,000 if you found an armed militia."
Ayub's videos suggest that he wields some influence in the region. He has shared pictures and videos that document his personal relationship with Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni. One video posted in early 2025 shows Deni visiting Ayub in the hospital.
Because of his close ties with the administration, Ayub would understand that he "can commit crimes with impunity," Osman said. There are typically no consequences for illegal acts for those who belong to powerful clans or have financial means, he said. "You can kill 10 people and walk on the streets the next day," he said. "That is how Somalia works."
In Germany, however, the influencers' actions might have consequences. A police spokesperson confirmed an investigation into Yacqwub's posts.
"The state security division of the Düsseldorf police is currently investigating a possible criminal offense in connection with the suspicion of incitement," he wrote.
And "Kabtan Ayub" could also soon be a concern for the German authorities again. In a video posted on TikTok on Tuesday, he seems to have returned to Europe. He is seen driving on what appears to be a highway in France. The caption of the video: "We have been separated for some time, Europe. Is everything alright?"
Ayub Abdirizak and Yacqwub Siyaad did not reply to questions sent by DW and ARD.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
2 hours ago
- DW
Russia: Is Moscow losing Azerbaijan as an ally? – DW – 07/03/2025
Relations between Russia and Azerbaijan have cooled following contentious arrests in both countries. Russia may be about to lose even more influence in the Caucasus. Last week, a police raid triggered a diplomatic crisis. Within a few days, the row between Russia and Azerbaijan had escalated, putting considerable strain on the already tense relationship between the two. It began with a controversial police raid in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg on June 27. Several ethnic Azeri men were arrested as part of an investigation into crimes that date back years. The men are accused of carrying out assassinations and murders. Russian special forces clearly went in hard when making the arrests. Two of the men died, presumably as a result of the controversial raid. Baku reacted swiftly and strongly. Azerbaijan's foreign ministry condemned the "unacceptable act of violence" by the Russian security forces. All cultural events with ties to Russia were cancelled in protest. A presenter on primetime state television denounced Moscow's "imperial behavior" toward former Soviet states. On June 30, Azerbaijani authorities arrested two Russian journalists with Russia's state-funded news agency Sputnik Azerbaijan in Baku. According to media reports, the two were working for the Russian domestic security service, the FSB. The Kremlin was restrained in its response. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he regretted Baku's decision to cancel cultural events, stressing that the situation in Yekaterinburg "cannot and should not be a reason for such a reaction." The Russian foreign ministry pointed out that the dead and detained men, although ethnic Azeris, were holders of Russian passports. The following day, the Azerbaijani judicial authorities upped the ante by arresting more Russian citizens in Baku. They are accused of involvement in drug smuggling and organized crime. Photos from the courtroom show that some of the detainees appear to have been beaten. The men were identified on social media as programmers and tourists from Yekaterinburg. The spiral of reciprocal accusations continues to intensify. More Azeris have been arrested in Russia, in the cities of Yekaterinburg and Voronezh. Regional experts described the row to DW as yet another strain on the relationship between the two countries, after the Azerbaijani plane crash late last year. On December 25, 2024, an Azerbaijani plane carrying 62 passengers and five crew was hit by a Russian surface-to-air missile. The tragedy occurred over the city of Grozny, where Russian air defenses were in action. The plane attempted to make an emergency landing, but crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau. 38 people were killed. The Azerbaijani political scientist and conflict researcher Arif Yunusov believes the harsh rhetoric in both countries' media since then is not a coincidence. In his view, information policy in both Russia and Azerbaijan is coordinated by government authorities, and bilateral relations are largely influenced by the personal feelings of the respective heads of state. Yunusov comments that, for the Azerbaijani president, Ilham Aliyev, there was a personal dimension to the plane crash. A presidential plane was also flying over Russia at the time of the incident: In theory, this too could have become a target for the Russian anti-aircraft missiles. Furthermore, the first official representative to apologize to the Azerbaijanis was not the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, but Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. Yusunov says President Ilham Aliyev was annoyed by this. "Aliyev didn't mention Kadyrov by name, but he was sharply critical, saying that it shouldn't be other people calling him," Yusunov explains. He believes that if Putin had been the first to call Aliyev, the public confrontation could have been avoided. Independent Caucasus expert Kirill Krivosheev agrees. "Putin only made a formal apology, and it was clear that Aliyev was far from satisfied," he told DW. However, Krivosheev emphasizes that recent events in Yekaterinburg were probably not initiated by the Kremlin. Criminal prosecutors in Russia have a logic of their own, he says. "They view all diaspora populations, including the Azeri community, as organized crime groups. It's a widespread trend among sectors of the Russian elite." Krivosheev believes the resulting diplomatic crisis is simply collateral damage. According to Krivosheev, the government in Baku is using the political escalation to reinforce its position on the international stage. "It's important to Aliyev that he comes across as a commanding leader who is able to say no to both Russia and the West." The Azerbaijani political scientist and member of parliament Rasim Muzabekov says Baku no longer sees Moscow as an external power in a position to dictate the rules in the Caucasus. He told DW that Azerbaijan had begun to develop its own military and energy infrastructures, and that this, in turn, had annoyed the Kremlin. Muzabekov says Russian media rhetoric toward Azerbaijan has become much harsher, and that Moscow is now trying to compensate for its loss of influence in the region by exerting pressure on the Azeri diaspora. This could have economic as well as diplomatic consequences — for example, in the energy market. "We shouldn't forget that Russia is under sanctions. And Azerbaijan has helped Moscow to get around these in certain ways," Arif Yunusov observes. "The European parliament has set up a commission to investigate whose gas is being sold to Europe, for example. Is it Azerbaijani, or it is in fact Russian?" If relations between Moscow and Baku were to deteriorate further, any such deal between the two countries would also be jeopardized. The MP Rasim Muzabekov adds that other bilateral projects are also under threat: the development of the International North–South Transport Corridor through Azerbaijan, and the project to synchronize the Russian and Iranian power grids. Muzabekov warns that problems transporting Russian gas through Iran could also not be ruled out. Nonetheless, economic interests are still important to Azerbaijan, says the political scientist Krivosheev. "Ideally, the Azerbaijani economy would like to steer clear of politics. But while Baku still has scope for action, Moscow has less and less leverage." Russia, he concludes, is losing influence in the Caucasus.
DW
3 hours ago
- DW
'One event' arms pause will be little comfort to Ukraine – DW – 07/03/2025
The US says its surprise pause on arms shipments is a one-off. But amid the turbulent US-Ukraine relationship, the assurance will offer little comfort to Volodymyr Zelenskyy or his European supporters. A US announcement this week that a batch of arms shipments to Ukraine would be paused is yet another reminder that the eastern European country's supply of advanced military equipment is not as secure as it once was. That's despite the US downplaying its decision to withhold crucial arms shipments to Ukraine, where a state department spokesperson told reporters it was a one-off. "This is not a cessation of us assisting Ukraine or of providing weapons," said spokeswoman Tammy Bruce. "This is one event and one situation and we'll discuss what else comes up in future." Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is due to speak with Donald Trump on Friday about the decision, however it comes amid difficult relations during the US leader's second term, stemming most notably from the globally broadcast falling out between the two leaders during a White House sitdown in early March. Trump confirmed in a post on his social media platform that he will first speak with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Thursday. Following the disastrous White House visit, Zelenskyy sought to shore up support closer to home with key European allies. Europe has since stepped up their support in financial and supply terms. But if the US were to continue to withhold its support, it would significantly undermine Ukraine's position versus Russia. "If this were to be a longer-term issue, it would definitely be a challenge for Ukraine to cope," Jana Kobzova, a senior policy fellow specializing at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told DW. "Partly because some of the US systems are not easily replaceable, that goes especially for air defense, but also some of the longer-range capabilities which Ukraine has started to produce domestically but not in the quantities needed." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Among the American weapons due for shipping were Patriot air defense missiles and precision-guided artillery, according to officials speaking to newswires anonymously. The pause on these shipments comes at a critical time, with Russia ramping up weapons production and attacks. Those include strikes on soldier draft hubs in Poltava, the national capital Kyiv and port city Odesa and ground advances in key regions in Eastern Ukraine. Despite increased spending on defense from Europe's NATO members — now 5% of GDP following its June meeting — any long-term US stall on weapons will squeeze Ukraine and its neighbors. "There is recognition at the political level … that we would need to be increasing production, but none of that happens quickly enough for Ukraine," said Kobzova. Kobzova also pointed to investments being made into Ukraine's own defense industry to buffer against future supply line cuts from the US. Europe is now the biggest investor in Ukraine's domestic defense industry. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video But even that might not be enough. Marina Miron, a defense researcher specializing in military technology and Russian capability at Kings College London, UK, told DW. She said despite the acrimony between Trump and Zelenskyy, the pause on shipments could be due to logistics, with the US potentially needing to weigh its own domestic supply needs against the support it gives to dozens of other countries, including Israel. Experts interviewed by DW highlighted the offer made by Zelenskyy to directly purchase armaments from the US, but, in reality, arms manufacturing is a time-consuming process. "It takes two years to produce one [air defense missile] battery," said Miron. "So even if you buy them now, it doesn't mean that they will be on the battlefield. You place a purchase order and you get in the queue." Finding a way to more effectively repair and adapt equipment for different missiles could be a potential stopgap to meet immediate needs. But, as defense supplies are again in doubt, Miron asked whether Ukraine has what it needs to push back Russia's offensive. "The problem is time and money and we also have the variable of people," he said, adding that about 90 people are needed to operate a Patriot air missile battery. And Ukraine, Miron points out, is losing people with no guarantee of replacement as the war grinds through its fourth year. Ukraine's support in Europe has been increasing — both rhetorically and materially. As it took over the presidency of the EU for the next six months, Denmark has taken the early opportunity to put Ukraine's membership application into the bloc back on the agenda. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Thursday said the EU "must strengthen Ukraine. And we must weaken Russia." "Ukraine is essential to Europe's security. Our contribution to Ukraine is also a protection of our freedom. Ukraine belongs in the European Union. It is in both in Denmark's and Europe's interest." That's on the back of a visit to Ukraine from German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who branded Ukraine's plight Berlin's most important foreign policy task. But the signals from the US suggest to the continent that its tarnsatlantic ally is not the steadfast partner it once was. "There is a sober analysis both in Kyiv and the European part of NATO that relying on US military assistance to continue forever in Ukraine is not an option," said Kobzova. "And that has been there ever since March when the assistance was stopped for the first time." That view is echoed by retired US Army Europe Commanding General Ben Hodges, who said the US decision to pause shipments was not about stockpiles. "It's a choice of this Administration to placate Russia, at the expense of Ukraine," Hodges told DW. "It also shows the very limited understanding this administration [has] of the importance to America's strategic interests to help Ukraine and Europe deter Russia." Miron's also takes a pessimistic view on the US-Ukraine ties, even with attempts to entice Trump back to the Ukrainian cause. "Certainly you can try some diplomacy, and explain to Trump that Ukraine matters, but I think Trump has already made up his mind," he said. "Trump has much more to solve with Russia in terms of global problems than with Ukraine."
DW
4 hours ago
- DW
Middle East: Hamas seeks ceasefire guarantees – DW – 07/03/2025
The Islamist militant group Hamas is reportedly seeking guarantees that a US-backed ceasefire will lead to a permanent end to hostilities, as more Palestinians are killed in Israeli air strikes. DW has more. A United Nations expert on Thursday urged countries to cut off financial and trade ties with Israel and impose an arms embargo in response to what she called an "apocalyptic" situation in the Gaza Strip. "Israel is responsible for one of the cruelest genocides in modern history," said Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in a speech to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. Albanese was presenting her latest report which named more than 60 companies she said were involved in supporting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and military actions in Gaza. "What I expose is not a list, it is a system, and that is to be addressed," she told the council, calling for international companies to face legal consequences for what she alleged was their involvement in violations of international law. Israel's delegate was not present for the speech at the Geneva council, which Israel claims has an antisemitic bias, and has yet to comment. Earlier this week, however, Israeli representatives in Switzerland called Albanese's report "legally groundless, defamatory and a flagrant abuse of her office." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video At least 94 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes and alleged gunfire in the Gaza Strip overnight and on Thursday morning, including at least 45 who were attempting to access humanitarian aid, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. According to the Hamas-run institution, at least five people were killed near sites linked to the controversial US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), while at least 33 others were killed at other aid-related locations. Elsewhere, the French AFP news agency, citing Gaza's civil defense agency, reported that an Israeli strike on a school building providing shelter for displaced people in Gaza City killed at least 12 people, mainly women and children. The Associated Press (AP) news agency reported that others were killed in airstrikes which struck tents in Muwasi, a sprawling zone where many Palestinians are attempting to shelter in tents. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The Palestinian militant group Hamas is seeking "clear guarantees" that a new US-backed ceasefire deal would ultimately lead to the end of the ongoing war with Israel. The latest deal, which proposes the return of ten living Israeli hostages and the bodies of 18 more in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails during a 60-day ceasefire, has allegedly been accepted by Israel, according to US President Donald Trump. "We are approaching the matter with great responsibility," Hamas said on its Telegram channel on Wednesday. Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen, who sits on the government's security cabinet, told Israeli news outlet Ynet that there was "definitely readiness to advance a deal." Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said most of his government colleagues back a Gaza agreement that includes the release of hostages. "If the opportunity arises, we must not miss it!" he wrote on social media. Two Israeli officials told the Reuters news agency however that details were still being ironed out. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his stance that there can be no end to the war while Hamas remain in control of the Gaza Strip. "I am telling you: there will be no more Hamas, there will be no more Hamastan, we are not going back to that, it's over," he said in a speech in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon on Wednesday in remarks quoted by his office. "We will free all of our hostages," Netanyahu added. "We will eliminate Hamas down to its very foundations." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Hello and welcome to DW's coverage of developments in the Middle East on Thursday, July 3. The Palestinian militant group Hamas says it is seeking guarantees that the latest US-backed ceasefire proposal will eventually lead to an end to the war with Israel. Meanwhile, almost 100 more people have been killed in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip, and also reportedly near sites distributing humanitarian aid. A United Nations expert has descried the "apocalyptic" situation in the enclave and called on states to cut trade ties with Israel over what the UN expert described as a "genocidal" campaign.
