Somalia
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- transitional federal-parliamentary government: there is no permanent national government
- CONSTITUTION
- September 23, 1979
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- there is no national system; a mix of English common law, Italian law, Islamic law, and traditional Somali norms
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- unicameral, National Assembly
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- not operational: following the fall of the National Government, many regions reintroduced Islamic law and Somali customary law, with the possibility of appeal
RELIGIONS
Sunni Muslims
From the country
APRIL 30, 2020SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB EXECUTES THREE IN HIRAN REGION
Al-Shabaab on 28 April 2020 publicly executed in Galgadud region three men for alleged espionage activities.
- APRIL 7, 2020SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: SENATOR’S BODYGUARD SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
A former soldier was on 4 April 2020 sentenced to death by a navy court in Mogadishu for the homicide of a civilian.
- APRIL 1, 2020SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB SAYS IT EXECUTED SIX PEOPLE IN SOMALIA FOR SPYING
Al-Shabaab on 31 March 2020 executed six men it said were spying for Somali intelligence agencies, the U.S. and Kenya, according to a broadcast on Radio Andalus, which supports the Islamist group that’s linked to al-Qaeda.
MARCH 31, 2020SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALILAND: PRESIDENT TO RELEASE 800 PRISONERS IN COMBATING COVID-19
Somaliland is due to release more than 800 prisoners on temporary basis in an effort to combat the spread of the new Coronavirus disease in the country’s crowded jails, The Somaliland Standard reported on 28 March 2020.
MARCH 16, 2020SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: SOLDIER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING CIVILIAN
A military tribunal in Somalia sentenced a military officer to death on 15 March 2020 for killing a civilian outside Somali capital, Mogadishu.
MARCH 3, 2020SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: TWO MEN EXECUTED FOR GIRL'S GANG RAPE AND MURDER IN PUNTLAND
Puntland authorities in northeastern Somalia on 11 February 2020 executed two men by firing squad for the gang rape
- FEBRUARY 4, 2020SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALILAND (SOMALIA): MILITARY COURT SENTENCES POLICE OFFICER TO DEATH FOR KILLING CIVILIAN MAN
The Supreme military Court in Somaliland has handed down a death sentence to a police officer who was found guilty of killing innocent man near Wajale town in Gebiley district, Somaliland New Agency (SOLNA) reported on 3 February 2020.
- JANUARY 27, 2020SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: AL-SHABAB ANNOUNCES IT PUBBLICLY EXECUTED THREE SOLDIERS
Somalia’s Al-Shabab Islamic extremist group says it has publicly executed three men accused of working with Somali troops and Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF), Garowe Online reports.
- JANUARY 16, 2020SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
THE EU STRONGLY OPPOSES EXECUTION OF INMATES IN SOMALILAND PRISONS
The European Union Ambassador of Somalia Nicolas Berlanga firmly expressed opposition over death penalty after police carried out the execution of six inmates in Mandera Prison near Berbera on 15 January 2020 morning.
- JANUARY 15, 2020SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALILAND (SOMALIA): SIX CONVICTS EXECUTED FOR MURDER AND TERRORISM
Six men who had been convicted for murder and terrorism in Somaliland were executed in Hargeisa on 15 January 2020.
JANUARY 10, 2020SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: OFFICER HANDED DEATH SENTENCE IN PUNTLAND, TO RECEIVE 67 CAMELS FROM STATE FOR HARM
A military court of appeal in Puntland on 6 January 2020 upheld the ruling of a lower court which sentenced to death a military officer who killed his boss at Bosaso port but ordered the government compensate the defendant for injuries suffered during his
JANUARY 3, 2020SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: 7 AL SHABAAB MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH
Somali military court sentenced seven al Shabaab men to death for murder and terrorism, Allgalgaduud Media reported on 31 December 2019.