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
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.
- SEPTEMBER 4, 2021SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB PUBLICLY EXECUTE WOMAN IN HIIRAAN
Residents in Shaw village in the Hiiraan region say that an Al-Shabaab court sentenced a woman to death for allegedly being a soldier in the Hirshabelle Security Forces, Hiiraan Online reported on 1 September 2021.
JULY 15, 2021SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: MAN EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD FOR RAPING THREE-YEAR-OLD STEPDAUGHTER
A man sentenced to death for raping his three-year-old stepdaughter was executed by firing squad on 15 July 2021 in southern Somalia’s Jubaland state.
JULY 12, 2021SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: A MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY A PUNTLAND COURT ESCAPES JAIL
A prisoner who was sentenced to death by a court in Puntland for the murder of a man in Lasanod several years ago on 6 July 2021 escaped the main prison in the town of Gardo.
- JULY 5, 2021SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB EXECUTES SIX ALLEGED SPIES
Al-Shabaab terrorist group on 27 June 2021 publicly executed six people accused of spying for the American intelligence agency, the CIA, in southern Somalia.
- JULY 1, 2021SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: THREE EXECUTED IN PUNTLAND FOR TERRORISM
Authorities in the regional state of Puntland on 27 June 2021 executed three men in Garowe and Qardho town, regional police commander Colonel Mumi Abdi Shire told the media.
JUNE 30, 2021SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: 18 AL-SHABAAB CONVICTS EXECUTED IN PUNTLAND
A military court in Puntland on 27 June 2021 executed eighteen Al-Shabaab members by firing squad in the central town, Galkayo.
- JUNE 16, 2021SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: 17 AL-SHABAAB MEMBERS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN PUNTLAND
The military Supreme Court in the semi-autonomous Somali regional state of Puntland on 13 June 2021 sentenced 17 men to death in Galkayo.
APRIL 22, 2021SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: PUNTLAND MILITARY COURT HANDS DOWN DEATH SENTENCE TO FIVE SHABAB MEMBERS
Court of the Armed forces of the Puntland State of Somalia on 21 April 2021 handed down death sentence to five Shabab members who were found guilty in what the court said a series of assassinations and planting landmines in Galkacyo and some parts of the
- MARCH 18, 2021SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALILAND’S MILITARY COURT SENTENCES SOLDIER TO DEATH
A Somaliland military court on 13 March 2021 sentenced a military soldier to death for killing a civilian.
- MARCH 3, 2021SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB EXECUTES 5 PEOPLE FOR SPYING
The Somali-based al-Qaeda-affiliated terror group al-Shabaab has executed five people in the southern town of Jilib in Somalia's Middle Juba region, Anadolu Agency reported on 2 March 2021.
FEBRUARY 15, 2021NorwayDEATH PENALTYSOMALILAND: NORWEGIAN CITIZEN SENTENCED TO DEATH COULD BE SHOT WITHIN A FEW DAYS
The Court of Appeal in Hargeisa on 14 February 2021 upheld the death sentence against the 54-year-old Norwegian citizen Saad Jirde Hayd in Somaliland.
JANUARY 27, 2021SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: MILITARY COURT SENTENCES SOLDIER TO DEATH
A military court in Somalia on 23 January 2021 sentenced a soldier to death for killing a civilian.
DECEMBER 24, 2020SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: AL SHABAAB EXECUTE MAN FOR MURDER
Al Shabaab militants in Lower Shabelle on 22 December 2020 publicly executed by firing squad a man for murder.
- DECEMBER 23, 2020SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: AL SHABAAB COURT CUTS OFF A MAN’S HAND FOR STEALING
Al Shabab militants in Somalia on 22 December 2020 publicly cut off the right hands of a man after a sharia court convicted him of breaking into a shop and stealing about a 26,000 Somali shilling.
NOVEMBER 30, 2020SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: THREE AL-SHABAAB MILITANTS EXECUTED OVER KILLINGS
Three al-Shabaab lieutenants were on 29 November 2020 morning executed by firing squad ordered by a military court-martial.
NOVEMBER 29, 2020SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: SOMALILAND EXECUTES SIX INMATES CONVICTED OF KILLINGS
Somaliland security forces on 26 November 2020 executed six inmates by firing squad after being convicted of committed deliberate killings.
NOVEMBER 24, 2020NorwayDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: THE EXECUTION OF NORWEGIAN CITIZEN SENTENCED TO DEATH IN SOMALILAND HAS BEEN POSTPONED INDEFINITELY
Only hours before the 54-year-old Norwegian citizen Saad Jidre sentenced to death was to be executed in Somaliland, he was informed that it had been postponed.
NOVEMBER 19, 2020NorwayDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: NORWEGIAN CITIZEN SENTENCED TO DEATH IN SOMALILAND
Norwegian citizen Saad Jidre on 18 November 2020 was sentenced to death in Hargeisa District Court in the self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland.