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
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2001SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
A man who killed the driver of Colonel Tafase, an Ethiopian...
A man who killed the driver of Colonel Tafase, an Ethiopian official who is based in Baydhabo, was sentenced to death in the town
- APRIL 27, 2001SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights, expressed...
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights, expressed concern at the human rights situation in Somalia
- MARCH 26, 2001SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
The editor of the weekly "War Ogaal", Abdishakur Yusuf...
The editor of the weekly "War Ogaal", Abdishakur Yusuf Ali, was due to appear in court for reporting that two women had been sentenced to death in Bosaso, the commercial capital of the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, northeastern Somalia
- FEBRUARY 27, 2001SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
Puntland police chief, Colonel Hirsi Said Farah, denied...
Puntland police chief, Colonel Hirsi Said Farah, denied news reports that two women were sentenced to death by stoning
- FEBRUARY 19, 2001SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
Two women were sentenced to death because they were...
Two women were sentenced to death because they were found to be living in the same residence as husband and wife, they were thus found guilty of "unnatural" behaviour according to Sharia law, which the Somalian Penal Code bases itself on
- JANUARY 5, 2001SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
Shaykh Muhammad Elbur and Shaykh Abdi Farah Weheliye,...
Shaykh Muhammad Elbur and Shaykh Abdi Farah Weheliye, judges of the Islamic court based at the Mogadishu livestock market, ordered the execution of Farah Warsame Halane for killing Abdi Muhammad Hade five days before
- JANUARY 1, 2001SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
In August 1998 Puntland had stated unanimously its...
In August 1998 Puntland had stated unanimously its independence from the rest of Somalia, which had been divided in 1991 into various regions under the control of rival militias
- APRIL 25, 2000SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
The Shirkoole Islamic court in Southern Mogadishu executed...
The Shirkoole Islamic court in Southern Mogadishu executed Farhan Muhammad Jama' for killing businessman Ahmad Muhammad Ali (Dhabareey), near the Baar Ubax road junction
- APRIL 3, 2000SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
An Islamic court in Buulo village in the Shabeellaha...
An Islamic court in Buulo village in the Shabeellaha Hoose Region (south-central Somalia) sentenced Neperto Muhammad Abdi to death by stoning after she was found guilty of having three husbands
- MARCH 12, 2000SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
Shireh Hasan Ahmad was executed publicly by a firing...
Shireh Hasan Ahmad was executed publicly by a firing squad in Jowhar (south-central Somalia) for killing a woman, Saynab Muhammad, in Gaaleed Village on February 27, 2000
- JANUARY 1, 2000SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
Somalia has been without central government since 1991,...
Somalia has been without central government since 1991, when clans ousted dictator Siad Barre and the east African country sank into inter-clan fighting in which tens of thousands died
- AUGUST 11, 1999SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
On August 11, a man, identified only as Kuke, was publicly...
On August 11, a man, identified only as Kuke, was publicly executed for murdering Farah Nur Labaale with a knife