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
JULY 5, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB BEHEADS TWO TELECOMMUNICATIONS WORKERS FOR COOPERATING WITH SECURITY FORCES
Armed group Al shabaab have beheaded two telecommunication staff in Galcad in Galgadud region. The
JUNE 23, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: MILITARY COURT SENTENCED AL SHABAAB SYMPATHIZER TO DEATH
Somali military court has sentenced armed group Alshabaab sympathizer to death.
- JUNE 18, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: 43 AL SHABAB MILITANTS SENTENCED TO DEATH IN PUNTLAND STATE
A military court in Puntland state of Somalia sentenced 43 Al shabab militants to death. The militants had
JUNE 10, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: AL SHABAAB EXECUTES 7 FOR SPYING AND HELPING US DRONE STRIKES
Al shabaab militants publicly executed seven men whom they accused of spying for Unites States Intelligence CIA and helping U.S. drones kill their leaders.
- MAY 14, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB EXECUTES 4 ‘ELDERS’ ACCUSED OF SPYING
Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked militant group executed four men for allegedly spying for Somali government
- APRIL 30, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: FIVE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR BAIDOA ATTACK
Somali military court sentenced five people to death for their role in Baidoa attack on February.
APRIL 11, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: AL-SHABAB JOURNALIST EXECUTED
A former journalist who joined the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab was executed in Somalia’s capital for
- APRIL 9, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: TWO SHABAB FIGHTERS EXECUTED FOR KILLING JOURNALIST
Two members of Somalia`s Al-Qaeda-linked Shabab jihadist group were executed by firing squad for the murder of a journalist killed by a car bomb last year, a judge said.
- APRIL 2, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB EXECUTES A TANZANIAN JIHADIST
A jihadist from Tanzania was executed in Southern Somalia.
MARCH 26, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: EX-SHABAB MEDIA OFFICER SENTENCED TO DEATH PENALTY
The High Military Court of Somalia sentenced Ex-Shabab media officer, Hassan Hanafi to a death penalty
- MARCH 20, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: FEMALE JOURNALIST KILLERS SENTENCED TO DEATH
Two Al shabaab members who have been convicted of murdering a female Somali journalist were
MARCH 12, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: COURT SENTENCES 5 TO DEATH OVER RESTAURANT BOMBING
Somalia’s military tribunal sentenced five suspects to death for their roles in the recent deadly suicide
- FEBRUARY 25, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: MILITARY COURT SENTENCES ALLEGED AL-SHABAAB MEMBERS
A Somali Military court sentenced six defendant accused for being members of Alshabab assassin squad.
FEBRUARY 8, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: PRESIDENT CALLS FOR THE FORMATION OF A CONSTITUTIONAL COURT
The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has stressed the need to form
- JANUARY 19, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: AL SHABAAB BEHEADS 60-YEAR-OLD ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT
Somali militant group al-Shabaab publicly beheaded an elderly man in Southern Somalia after accusing him
JANUARY 17, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALILAND: THREE CONVICTED OF MURDERS EXECUTED
The breakaway northern Somalia region of Somaliland executed three people including a woman and her
- JANUARY 11, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALILAND: THE GOVERNMENT EXECUTES SIX CONVICTED FOR MURDER
Somaliland government carried out the execution of 6 prisoners in different regions of the country. The 6
- JANUARY 1, 2016SomaliaDEATH 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.
- JANUARY 1, 2016SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB EXECUTES 5 YOUNG MEN FOR 'SPYING' ON THEM
The Al-Shabaab militant group has executed five young men for allegedly spying for United States and the
- DECEMBER 23, 2015SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: ISLAMISTS PUBLICLY EXECUTE TWO OFFICIALS
Islamist militant group al Shabaab publicly executed a Somali military officer and the leader of a small town
- NOVEMBER 16, 2015SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB MILITANTS EXECUTE PROMINENT CLERIC IN PUBLIC
Al-Shabaab militants killed prominent Muslim Cleric in an area between Jowhar and Beledweyn towns. The
- NOVEMBER 12, 2015SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: COURT MARTIAL SENTENCES TWO TO DEATH IN MOGADISHU
Two Somali National Army officers have been sentenced to death by a court martial in Mogadishu after
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2015SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: FORMER AL-SHABAAB FIGHTER EXECUTED IN BAIDOA FOR RAPE CASE
A former Al-Shabaab fighter who has surrendered himself to the Somali government in the beginning of this year was on September 29
SEPTEMBER 18, 2015SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: SEVEN SOLDIERS EXECUTED FOR ‘MURDERING CIVILIANS’
Seven soldiers were executed by firing squad in the Southern strategic port town of Kismayo after a court
- AUGUST 31, 2015SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
JUBALAND (SOMALIA): FOUR PEOPLE EXECUTED ON SUSPICION OF BEING AL-SHABAAB MILITANTS
Interim Jubaland Administration’s soldiers have reportedly executed at least four people including a woman on suspicion of being Al-Shabaab militants.
- AUGUST 20, 2015SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
Federal Government of Somalia’s Military Court executed a 30-year-old soldier who was convicted of
Federal Government of Somalia’s Military Court executed a 30-year-old soldier who was convicted of
- JULY 28, 2015SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
the Army of the Interim Jubaland Administration executed two members of Al-Shabaab after they were
the Army of the Interim Jubaland Administration executed two members of Al-Shabaab after they were
- MAY 26, 2015SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
SOMALIA: AL-SHABAAB EXECUTES 4 FOR SPYING FOR KENYA AND ETHIOPIA
Al-Shabaab militants shot dead in the public four people they accused of spying for their enemies in
- MAY 19, 2015SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
the Somali military court executed a suspected member of the militant group Al- Shabaab for attacking
the Somali military court executed a suspected member of the militant group Al- Shabaab for attacking
MAY 13, 2015SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: MURDERERS OF MPS EXECUTED IN MOGADISHU
two suspected members of Al-Shabaab were executed by firing squad in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.