Somalia
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Retentionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 5
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 15
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · In January, Majertein militia loyal to Mohamed Said...
- News items in the archive
- 477
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Somalia is classified as Retentionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 5 executions in the country, against 15 the year before. The archive holds 477 news items on Somalia, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
JANUARY 16, 2013SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: MILITARY COURT EXECUTES 2 SOLDIERS CONVICTED OF MURDER AND RAPE
the Somali military court executed two government soldiers convicted of murder and
- JANUARY 1, 2013SomaliaDEATH 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.
NOVEMBER 8, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: PUNTLAND COURT GIVES DEATH SENTENCE TO A KILLER IN BOSASSO
A court in Somalia's semi-autonomous region of Puntland sentenced to death a man found
OCTOBER 25, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB ORDER WOMAN STONED TO DEATH FOR SEX OFFENCE
A young woman was stoned to death in Somalia after being convicted of engaging in out-of-marriage
OCTOBER 23, 2012YemenDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: PUNTLAND SENTENCES YEMENI NATIONAL TO DEATH
Ahmed Abdi Botan, head of the Puntland military court, sentenced a Yemeni man to
SEPTEMBER 4, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: AL-SHABAB EXECUTE TWO MEN
Somalia's most powerful Islamist rebel group al-Shabab executed two men, accusing them to
JULY 22, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: AL-SHABAB EXECUTE 3 SAID TO INFORM CIA, MI6
Somalia's most powerful militant group publicly executed three of its members, saying
- JULY 19, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
the Somali military court publicly executed four men...
the Somali military court publicly executed four men...
- JUNE 17, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
a soldier in the Somali forces was sentenced...
a soldier in the Somali forces was sentenced...
- JUNE 17, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
a soldier in the Somali forces was sentenced to death after being convicted of killing a woman
a soldier in the Somali forces was sentenced to death after being convicted of killing a woman
- JUNE 9, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
a man known as Qalwe Adan Ali Nur was executed in Qardho
a man known as Qalwe Adan Ali Nur was executed in Qardho
- MAY 16, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALILAND GIVES 17 THE DEATH PENALTY, 5 JAIL TERMS
In Somaliland, a military tribunal in Hargeisa has convicted and sentenced 17 civilians to death
- MAY 5, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
a Transitional Federal Government (TFG) soldier who killed his colleague
a Transitional Federal Government (TFG) soldier who killed his colleague
- APRIL 24, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) soldiers in the south-west
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) soldiers in the south-west
- APRIL 14, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: PUNTLAND COURT SENTENCES AL SHABAB MEMBERS TO DEATH
A court in Bosasso town, the commercial hub of Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland, sentenced four men to death after alleging they were Al Shabab members in Puntland and carrying out assassinations in the region, RBC Radio reports.
- APRIL 5, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
the Al-Qaeda-allied group Al-Shabaab executed US-born jihadist Omar Hammami
the Al-Qaeda-allied group Al-Shabaab executed US-born jihadist Omar Hammami
- APRIL 4, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
"The application of punishment is a matter for the legitimate state
"The application of punishment is a matter for the legitimate state
- FEBRUARY 18, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) military court
Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) military court
- JANUARY 23, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: POLICE EXECUTE KILLER IN MOGADISHU
A soldier was executed in Mogadishu after he was found guilty of killing a fellow soldier
- JANUARY 20, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
Al-Shabaab courts in Middle Shabelle and Lower Shabelle...
Al-Shabaab courts in Middle Shabelle and Lower Shabelle...
JANUARY 10, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: KENYAN STONED TO DEATH BY AL-SHABAAB
Kenyan fighting for the Al-Shabaab was executed by the Somali militant group for alleged espionage.
- JANUARY 1, 2012SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
Somalia has been without central government since 1991...
Somalia has been without central government since 1991...
- DECEMBER 10, 2011SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: PUNTLAND EXECUTES TWO AL SHABAAB CONVICTED TERRORISTS
Government officials in Somalia’s Puntland State say they have executed two men convicted
- NOVEMBER 12, 2011SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: PUNTLAND COURT SENTENCES TO DEATH AL SHABAAB LINKED MAN
a court in Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland sentenced a man found guilty
- OCTOBER 17, 2011SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
PUNTLAND: AL SHABAAB RELATED SUSPECT EXECUTED
The high court of Somalia's semi-autonomous state of Puntland conducted death penalty
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2011SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
in its response to the recommendations received under the Universal Periodic Review...
in its response to the recommendations received under the Universal Periodic Review...
- SEPTEMBER 20, 2011SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: JUDGE KILLER EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD IN PUNTLAND
a man convicted of killing a judge was executed by firing squad in Puntland port city of Bossaso
- SEPTEMBER 17, 2011SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: PUNTLAND COURT SENTENCES MAN TO DEATH
the Bossaso First Degree Court in Somalia's Puntland region sentenced Jama Abdullahi Abdulle to death for killing judge Abdinasir Haji Aden in front of the courthouse on September 14, 2011. It was not immediately clear why Abdulle targeted the judge.
- SEPTEMBER 17, 2011SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
Somalia's military court has sentenced to death 15 soldiers...
Somalia's military court has sentenced to death 15 soldiers...
- AUGUST 28, 2011SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
the Somali military court has for the first time sentenced a woman...
the Somali military court has for the first time sentenced a woman...