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 31, 2024SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: A COURT IN GALMUDUG STATE EXECUTES TWO MEN BY FIRING SQUAD FOR MURDER
A court in the Galgadud region on March 28, 2024 executed two men by firing squad for murder, in different cases.
MARCH 6, 2024SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: MILITARY COURT SENTENCES SIX MOROCCANS TO DEATH FOR TERRORISM
A military court in northern Somalia on February 29, 2024 sentenced six Moroccan nationals to death on terrorism charges.
- JANUARY 16, 2024SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB EXECUTES SEVEN IN JILIB OVER ESPIONAGE ALLEGATIONS
The militant group Al-Shabaab on January 15, 2024 carried out a public execution of seven individuals in Jilib, Middle Juba region.
- NOVEMBER 21, 2023SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALI: MILITARY COURT EXECUTES SOLDIER FOR MURDER IN GALMUDUG
In the Galgaduud region's Guriceel city, Somalia's Military Court executed soldier Abdisalan Ali Ahmed on November 19, 2023 for the murder of Abdullahi Ali Hudey.
NOVEMBER 8, 2023SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE FOR DRIVER OVER POLICEMAN'S DEATH
A military court in Mogadishu has upheld the death sentence slapped on a tuk-tuk driver who had been convicted of murdering a police officer in Mogadishu.
NOVEMBER 2, 2023SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: FIVE MEN EXECUTED FOR MURDER IN SOMALILAND
The self-declared Republic of Somaliland on November 1st, 2023 executed five men for murder in Hargeisa.
OCTOBER 26, 2023SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: MILITARY COURT SENTENCES GOVERNMENT SOLDIER TO DEATH FOR KILLING COMRADE
The High Court of the Armed Forces in Somalia on October 25, 2023 upheld the death sentence for Constable Mohamed Abdihakin Mohamed Salah Ganey, who was convicted of murdering his fellow soldier.
OCTOBER 24, 2023SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: TWO SOLDIERS EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD FOR CIVILIAN MURDER
A firing squad on October 23, 2023 morning executed two Somali soldiers in the southern town of Baidoa.
MAY 20, 2023SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: MILITARY COURT EXECUTES TWO MEN IN BAIDOA
Somali military court in Baidoa executed two men by firing squad in Baidoa on the morning of May 18, 2023.
APRIL 11, 2023SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: 14 AL-SHABAAB MILITANTS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN PUNTLAND
A military court in Puntland on 8 April 2023 sentenced 14 members of the militant group Al-Shabaab, to death.
MARCH 27, 2023SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: MILITARY COURT IN PUNTLAND SENTENCES 10 AL-SHABAAB CONVICTS TO DEATH
The Puntland Armed Forces Court on 26 March 2023 sentenced ten members of Al-Shabaab to death after they were found guilty of carrying out a series of bombings and assassinations in Puntland state, and for being members of the Al-Shabaab network.
MARCH 18, 2023SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: THREE AL-SHABAB MILITANTS EXECUTED
A military court in Somalia on 15 March 2023 executed three al-Shabab militants it said pretended to be a doctor and soldiers to carry out bombings and shootings.