Sacdiyo was detained following a demonstration by Bajaj operators who blocked key roads in Mogadishu to protest the crippling increases in fuel costs and worsening economic conditions.

Fuel prices in the capital have more than doubled in recent weeks, climbing from about 65 cents per liter to roughly $1.50, according to transport operators and traders. The surge has hit Bajaj drivers particularly hard, as they rely on daily earnings to cover fuel, vehicle rental and household expenses.

Sacdiyo, a university graduate, turned to driving a Bajaj motorcycle taxi after struggling to find formal employment. In addition to working long hours on the streets of Mogadishu, she has publicly spoken about youth unemployment and economic hardship.

Her arrest drew criticism from opposition lawmaker Abdirahman Abdirashakur Warsame, who described her as "an example of courage and civic responsibility.”

"Organizing and participating in peaceful protests is not a crime, but a constitutionally guaranteed right,” he wrote on social media. "The government should listen to the concerns of the youth instead of using intimidation and arrest.”

He called on security agencies to release Sacdiyo immediately and respect citizens’ constitutional rights.

Authorities have not publicly commented on the reasons for her detention or the number of other drivers arrested during the protests.

The demonstrations come amid mounting frustration among transport operators over fuel prices, which traders have partly attributed to regional instability and disruptions to global oil supply routes. Drivers, however, accuse some suppliers of exploiting the situation to inflate prices.

The arrest of a prominent female driver has intensified debate over freedom of expression and the government’s handling of economic grievances at a time of rising living costs in Mogadishu.