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
- JANUARY 1, 2020SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
The penal code of Somalia represents an amalgam of various legal systems and traditions.
The penal code of Somalia represents an amalgam of various legal systems and traditions.
DECEMBER 11, 2019SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: COURT-MARTIAL SENTENCES SOLDIER TO DEATH FOR MURDER
A Somali military court in Mogadishu on 9 December 2019 sentenced ex-soldier to death for murder.
DECEMBER 9, 2019SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: POLICEMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING
A military court in Somalia sentenced a police officer to death on 7 December 2019 for killing a woman in the capital Mogadishu in September.
NOVEMBER 29, 2019SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: 2 AL SHABAAB MEMBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR AN ATTEMPTED BOMB ATTACK IN GURIEL TOWN
Two al Shabaab members on 24 November 2019 were sentenced to death in Somalia for being members of the terror organization as well as for conspiracy to assassinate leaders of Sufi-sect in Guri-El town.
NOVEMBER 26, 2019SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: MILITARY COURT SENTENCES AL SHABAAB MEMBER TO DEATH FOR ROLE IN SUFI CLERIC KILLING
The somali Military Court on 21 November 2019 sentenced alleged Al-Shabaab member, Abdullahi Ali Adan, to death for his role in last year’s killing of Sufi Cleric, Sheikh Abdiweli Ali Elmi Yare in Galkayo.
NOVEMBER 15, 2019SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB OPERATIVES SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING SOLDIERS
A military court in Mogadishu on 14 November 2019 sentenced two Al-Shabaab operatives to death and two others to life imprisonment for the murder of three soldiers and one civilian.
NOVEMBER 13, 2019SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: FIVE ISLAMIC STATE AND AL-SHABAAB MILITANTS EXECUTED IN PUBLIC IN PUNTLAND
Five men belonging to the Islamic State group and Al Shabaab Amniyaad on 7 November 2019 were publicly executed by firing squad by a local military court in Puntland.
NOVEMBER 5, 2019SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: TWO SHABAAB MEMBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH, DISTRICT COMMISSIONER TO LIFE FOR MURDER OF DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
A military court in Mogadishu on 28 October 2019 sentenced two Al-Shabaab members to death in connection with a bomb attack on the late Mahas deputy district commissioner, Rashid Osman Abdi.
- OCTOBER 15, 2019SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB REPORTEDLY EXECUTES 82-YEAR-OLD MAN IN JOWHAR
The Somali militant group, Al-Shabaab, has reportedly executed an 82-year-old man in Jowhar, the capital of Hirshabelle state.
OCTOBER 3, 2019SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: MILITARY COURT SENTENCES SOLDIER TO DEATH FOR KILLING COLLEAGUE
A military court in Mogadishu on 2 October 2019 sentenced army officer to death.
SEPTEMBER 17, 2019SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: TRIBUNAL COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE AGAINST 3 SOLDIERS
Somali Military Court in Baidoa town on 18 August 2019 upheld death sentence against three members of armed forces for murder.
- SEPTEMBER 13, 2019SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: 2 AL SHABAAB MILITANTS SENTENCED TO DEATH, LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR CAR BOMB THAT KILLED 12 IN MOGADISHU
A Somali military court has sentenced a man to death and another to life in prison for their involvement in a car bomb that killed 12 people in Mogadishu, Strategic Intelligence reported on 12 September 2019.