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
MARCH 26, 2025SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: SNA SOLDIER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING COMMANDER
Hussein Hassan Mahmoud Ma'da, a soldier in the Somali National Army, has been sentenced to death by firing squad for the murder of Sergeant Major Shafi'i Mohamed Hansi Ali, a group commander, HOL reported on March 26, 2025.
- FEBRUARY 19, 2025SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
‘HE THOUGHT HE’D BE FREED’: FAMILY MOURNS SOMALI MAN EXECUTED IN SAUDI ARABIA
The news came with chilling finality: Mohamed Nur Hussein, a Somali man imprisoned for seven years in Saudi Arabia, had been executed on February 16. His family, who had spoken to him only a day earlier, were left in shock.
SEPTEMBER 19, 2024SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE FOR MAN WHO BURNED PREGNANT WIFE
The Supreme Court of Somalia on September 18, 2024 upheld the death sentence for Sayid-Ali Moalim Daud, who was convicted of the brutal murder of his pregnant wife, Luul Abdiaziz, in January 2024.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2024SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: PUNTLAND COURT SENTENCES AL-SHABAAB SPY TO DEATH, THREE OTHERS TO LONG PRISON TERMS
A military court in Puntland has confirmed the death sentence of 50-year-old Abdisalan Salad Shuaib, who was convicted of spying for the militant group Al-Shabaab, Hiiran On Line reported August 13, 2024.
- SEPTEMBER 4, 2024SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA EXECUTES 10 AL SHABAAB INSURGENTS, POLICE SAY
Somalia's semi-autonomous state of Puntland executed 10 fighters from Islamist militant group al Shabaab on August 17, 2024, the region's police said in a statement.
JULY 18, 2024SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: TWO EX-SECURITY OFFICERS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER OF STUDENT
Two former security officials on July 16, 2024 were sentenced to death in Somalia for murder of a student.
JULY 17, 2024SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB FIGHTERS EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD
Five al-Shabaab militants on July 16, 2024 were executed by authorities in Somalia.
JULY 16, 2024SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB EXECUTES 5 MEN FOR ALLEGEDLY SPYING FOR U.S., SOMALIA AND KENYA
The militant group Al-Shabaab on July 13, 2024 executed five men accused of spying for the U.S., Kenya, and the Somali government.
JUNE 9, 2024SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: MILITARY COURT EXECUTES THREE MEN FOR MURDER OF TWO BROTHERS IN DHUSAMAREB
A Somali military court in Galmudug State executed three men in a public square in Dhusamareb town on June 6, 2024 for the murder of two brothers in December 2023.
MAY 23, 2024SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: PUNTLAND MILITARY COURT SENTENCES FOUR AL-SHABAB AFFILIATES TO DEATH AND PRISON TERMS
A Puntland military court sentenced four defendants to death and prison terms on May 21, 2024 for their links to the al-Shabab militant group.
MAY 20, 2024SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: MILITARY COURT RELEASES SIX MOROCCANS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR REPATRIATION
A military court in Somalia has released the six Moroccan nationals who were recently sentenced to death by a military court in northern Somalia in late February.
APRIL 8, 2024SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: POLICE OFFICERS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
Two police officers on April 4, 2024 were sentenced to death in Somalia by a military court.