Two British drill rappers from Liverpool have been filmed carrying firearms and wearing combat uniforms while in Somalia, reportedly involving themselves in a long-running cross-border clan conflict.
From Toxteth to a Somali Conflict Zone
Abdifatah Gulaid, 31, and Noah Ihiekwe, 30, both from the Toxteth area of Liverpool, travelled to the north-east of Somalia earlier this year. The BBC reported their presence in the region, where they were seen at the Laasqoray Hotel in Badhan, a city in the disputed Sanaag region.
Gulaid, who performs under the name Still Brickin, and Ihiekwe, known as Rayzer, were captured on video donning military garb and posing with armed soldiers. In one clip, Gulaid is heard making aggressive statements, declaring, 'There is no more need for talk, they're going to see us' and 'time for talk is finished.' He was also seen with a handgun holstered at his side.
Links to Clan Warfare and Government Warning
The rappers' presence coincided with a significant escalation in local territorial disputes. The hotel they stayed in hosted a conference for leaders of the Warsangeli clan, a group engaged in conflict with the rival Isaaq clan. Still Brickin is reported to have affiliations with the Warsangeli.
An eyewitness at the hotel told the BBC she saw the pair switch from casual clothes to combat gear and carry what looked like AK-47s. 'They left the hotel and joined a much bigger group outside who had assault rifles,' she said, later hearing gunshots that struck nearby buildings.
The UK government has issued a stark warning in response. A spokesperson told the BBC that 'any person who travels from the UK to conflict zones to engage in unlawful activity should expect to be investigated upon their return.'
Prior Detainment in Thailand and Ongoing Questions
Intriguingly, just one week before arriving in Somalia, the two men were detained in Phuket, Thailand. They were among six men arrested during a police drugs raid on a villa on January 23. Authorities discovered approximately 13lbs of cannabis and 39 tanks of laughing gas.
Although cannabis was legal for personal use in Thailand at the time, selling it without a licence remains illegal. Both rappers were subsequently released without charge.
The motives behind their travel to Somalia and the exact nature of their activities there remain unclear. However, their armed appearances in a volatile region have drawn serious attention from British authorities, who are now poised to investigate their actions upon any return to the UK.
