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
FEBRUARY 16, 2022SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: DEATH SENTENCES, JAIL TERMS FOR KILLERS OF JOURNALIST JAMAL ADEN
A Puntland military court has sentenced two men to death by firing squad and two others to long jail terms for the plotting and subsequent killing of prominent Somali journalist Jamal Farah Aden, Garowe online reported on 14 February 2022.
FEBRUARY 15, 2022SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB EXECUTES A GOVERNMENT SOLDIER IN PUBLIC
Al-Shabaab militants executed a Somali National Army soldier in a public square in Gambole area of Jowhar, the capital of Hir-Shabelle region, Somali Dispatch reported on 12 February 2022.
- FEBRUARY 13, 2022SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: FOUR CHILDREN SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER INVOLVEMENT WITH ARMED GROUPS
Save the Children on 11 February 2022 called on Somali authorities to intervene after six teenage boys were sentenced by a military court for involvement with armed groups, with four receiving the death penalty.
- FEBRUARY 3, 2022SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB EXECUTES MAN BY FIRING SQUAD FOR ALLEGED SPYING
Al-Shabaab militants have announced the execution of a man who they accused of spying for the Ethiopia National Defense Forces [ENDF] working for AMISOM and the Southwest regional troops, Garowe reported 1 february 2022.
FEBRUARY 2, 2022SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: PUNTLAND SENTENCES SIX MILITANTS TO DEATH AND JAIL TERMS FOR SERIAL KILLINGS
A military court in Somalia’s Puntland state has sentenced four men to death and two others to jail terms following a trial that substantiated their links to Al-Shabaab militants, Garowe online reported on 1 February 2022.
JANUARY 19, 2022SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: SOLDIER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING YOUNG SIBLINGS
The military court of the Somali Armed Forces on 4 January 2022 sentenced to death a soldier for the murder of two siblings Zakariye and Sowdo.
- JANUARY 17, 2022SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: FORMER SPF OFFICER EXECUTED FOR KILLING CIVILIAN IN GEDO REGION
A former Somali Police Force officer was executed on 10 January 2022 for killing a civilian in Gedo region.
JANUARY 16, 2022SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: FORMER SNA OFFICER EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD FOR KILLING CIVILIAN IN BELEDHAWO
A former Somali National Army officer was executed by firing squad on the morning of 11 January 2022 for killing a civilian in Belet Xaawo district in Gedo region.
NOVEMBER 24, 2021SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: PUNTLAND COURT SENTENCES TWO AL-SHABAAB FIGHTERS TO DEATH FOR BOSSASO PRISON ATTACK
A military court in Puntland sentenced two Al-Shabaab members to death on 21 November 2021 for their role in a prison attack in Bossaso in March.
- NOVEMBER 16, 2021UgandaDEATH PENALTY
TWO UGANDAN SOLDIERS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN SOMALIA
Two Ugandan People’s Defense Force (UPDF) soldiers serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have been sentenced to death and three others to 39 years in jail for the deaths of civilians.
OCTOBER 7, 2021SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB PUBLICLY EXECUTES TWO IN JAMAME
Al-Shabaab militants executed two men in a public square on 5 October 2021 in the Lower Jubba's Jamame district, accusing one of the men of being a sorcerer and the other a Somali government soldier.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2021SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB EXECUTE MAN FOR BLASPHEMY
Al-Shabaab militant group has executed an 83-year-old man accused of blasphemy in in central Somalia, the militant court confirmed on 5 August 2021.