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.

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.
After 13 years of lawlessness and as many attempts to set up a government, two years of peace talks involving the warlords in Somalia and its neighbouring countries, a transitional parliament elected Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed as the country’s new president, in October 2004. However the election took place in Kenya because Mogadishu was considered too dangerous. Most of the main warlords were included in ministerial posts. The government however remains outside the country, where faction leaders continue to fail to keep their pledge to disarm their followers. There are an estimated 60,000 armed militiamen in the country.
The jurisdiction of Shari'a courts has been extended to include criminal matters, and decisions by these courts are not open to appeal. There is an amalgamation of various legal systems and traditions. Capital punishment is retained in all existing court systems: Islamic, secular and traditional clan courts.
At least 10 executions, including a minor, were carried out in 1999 and at least one in 2001. There is no official or other information, but according to Amnesty International executions have been carried out in Somalia also in 2002. Four executions were reportedly carried out in 2004.
There are no official figures, but according to Amnesty International at least one execution took place in Somalia in 2004.