Liverpool Rappers Face UK Police Probe Over Somalia Conflict Role

Foreign news

2 minutes ago

By samjayservices

British police are considering questioning two Liverpool drill rappers upon their return to the UK after they were reportedly seen carrying firearms and parading with armed troops in Somalia during an active clan conflict. Abdifatah Gulaid, 31, known as Still Brickin’, and Noah Ihiekwe, 30, who performs as Rayzer, both from Toxteth, travelled to the north-east of the African nation earlier this year, becoming embroiled in a territorial dispute. Their actions in a foreign conflict zone could lead to investigations into potential criminal offences.

Footage obtained by the BBC shows Mr. Gulaid addressing armed troops in Somali, stating, “The time for talk is finished.” The extent of the musicians’ involvement with the local forces remains unclear, but the UK government has issued a warning that “any person who travels from the UK to conflict zones to engage in unlawful activity should expect to be investigated upon their return.” Mr. Gulaid is understood to be affiliated with the Warsangeli clan, which is engaged in long-standing tensions and fighting with the rival Isaaq clan.

An international development consultant, present in the country on business, recounted seeing the rappers at the Laasqoray Hotel in Badhan, within the Sanaag region. She noted their distinct British accents, initially observing them in casual attire. However, on a subsequent evening, she witnessed them wearing combat clothing and carrying weapons, which she described as resembling AK47s. They then joined a larger armed group outside the hotel, equipped with assault rifles and guns mounted on vehicles, shortly before gunshots erupted in the vicinity.

The Sanaag region is a hotly contested area, claimed by both the self-declared republic of Somaliland and Somalia’s autonomous state of Puntland. Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991 following the overthrow of military dictator Siad Barre, remains internationally unrecognised despite possessing its own political system, institutions, and currency. Puntland, established as an autonomous state in 1998, does not seek full independence, but both entities have historically clashed over territory and resources, exacerbating inter-clan rivalries that span generations.

Dr. Idil Osman, an expert on Somalia from the University of Leicester, explained that tensions had been building between the Somaliland administration and local clan communities, particularly the Warsangeli clan, which resisted Somaliland’s presence. “The Warsangeli clan have armed themselves and there has been a violent conflict,” Dr. Osman stated, noting that while clan elders have helped de-escalate the fighting, political disagreements persist. She added that strong ties between the Somali diaspora and their homeland often lead to involvement in local clan politics and conflicts.

The UK government has reiterated its firm stance on citizens participating in conflicts abroad, confirming that such individuals “must expect to be investigated by the police to determine if they have committed criminal offences.” Professor Clive Walker of Leeds University School of Law highlighted the complexities of prosecuting such cases, particularly if the involvement does not concern proscribed organisations like Al-Shabaab. Nevertheless, he cautioned that these individuals would likely face questioning upon re-entry into the UK, regardless of formal charges.

This incident follows a separate event in Phuket, Thailand, earlier this year, where Mr. Gulaid and Mr. Ihiekwe were reportedly detained during a drugs raid. Thai police stormed a luxury villa, recovering approximately 6kg of cannabis and 39 tanks of nitrous oxide. Although cannabis was legal for personal use in Thailand at the time, its sale without a licence was prohibited. The men, along with four others, were subsequently released without charge, just days before their journey to Somalia. The rappers were last reported to be in Dubai.