Bill: Convicted Al-Shabaab terrorists to lose property to Somalia's Government

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The anti-terrorism Bill which was recently approved by Somalia's Lower House will allow the state to seize property belonging to Al-Shabaab convicts once the Senate gives it node and subsequent assenting by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who is the head of state.

Alternatively, the Bill, which is yet to be signed into law, recommends that the government can impose monetary penalties on terror convicts. The bill will now go to the Upper House for consideration and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will append his signature to make it law.

Incidentally, the bill has been on the floor of the house since 2017 and gives government and security agencies sweeping powers to deter, prosecute and counter-terrorism in Somalia. The country is also facing IS-Somalia insurgents who have been making inroads from the north.

Close analysis of the Bill shows that Section 32 (b) gives the state power to ‘confiscate all property used in the act of terrorism, its facilitation or the reason for its acquisition, even if the property has been transferred to someone else or as it was before it was distorted.’

Further, article 32 (j) gives the government powers to ‘confiscate all property owned or controlled by him (terrorist), held or gathered for a terrorist group or organisation and all or some of the property owned by a terrorist.’

But importantly, the Bill gives the person who could be having issues with confiscated property some sort of relief because he can appeal the decision within 60 days. Should no complaints arise in this process, the government will proceed and seize the property as enshrined in the law.

Terror-related cases will be handled by the military courts which are said to be the most effective in a country where civilian courts are either dysfunctional or absent. The military courts are opposed by Human Rights groups which insist suspects are not given fair hearings as stipulated in the law of the country.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has announced that his administration is keen to completely defeat the Al-Shabaab extortionists and other violent extremist groups in the country. The country has been struggling with instability for the last three decades since the ouster of the military regime led by Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

GAROWE ONLINE