Darwish force commander sentenced to death in Somalia

KISMAYO, Somalia - A member of elite Darwish forces was on Saturday sentenced to death in Kismayo, the regional administrative capital of Jubaland, officials said, in a significant move that could define ongoing security reforms in Somalia, a country which has been struggling with insecurity for decades.

Darwish forces usually work along with the Somali National Army [SNA] and the African Union Mission troops in Somalia in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants, who control large swathes of rural southern and central Somalia. The militants are dominant in Juba regions within Jubaland.

And on Saturday, a regional court sitting in Kismayo convicted Farah Abdirashid, 45, over the killing of an innocent civilian in July 2019 at Kismayo, and was subsequently slapped with the death sentence. He becomes the first Darwish officer to be slapped with such a heavy penalty, officials said.

His colleague in the army Mohamud Rashid, 22, was sentenced to three years in jail after the prosecution managed to prove that he was in the company of Farah when the unprecedented incident took place. He was charged as an accomplice to murder, but the two still have a right to appeal.

More often than not, security officers in Somalia have been linked to heinous acts of murder but due to an almost dysfunctional judicial system, they have always managed to buy justice. There are many incidents of murders, rape, and defilement directly implicating members of the army according to reports by Human Rights Watch.

The conviction of the two could bring the much-needed discipline in the security sector which has struggled with reforms since 1990. Somalia plunged into a civil war in 1991 after the ouster of military ruler Siad Barre, who had seized power in 1969 following a successful coup.

The derailed reforms in Darwish forces topped the agenda of the United Nations boss Antonio Guitteres during his quarterly address to the United Nations Security Council [UNSC]. The UN boss was giving a security briefing over the Somalia situation.

In his speech, Guterres said that "reform in the security and justice sectors will require political will and cooperation between the Federal Government and the federal member states". There has been a lack of political goodwill in Somalia when it comes to insecurity issues.

He called for proper equipment of Darwish forces especially in the Southwest state which has borne the brunt of Al-Shabaab numerous attacks. He also asked authorities to desist from prosecuting civilian cases in military courts.

"I call upon the Federal Government and the state authorities to ensure that federal Darwish units and South-West police personnel are appropriately equipped and deployed to Shabelle Hoose to support stabilization efforts following successful operations," he noted.

"I urge the Somali authorities to complete the transfer of high-risk cases from military to civilian courts as a matter of priority," added the UN boss, who has been pushing for peace and stability in Somalia, following years of inter-clan conflicts and Al-Shabaab menace.

Jubaland is among the federal states affected by Al-Shabaab infiltration but the presence of AMISOM troops has significantly boosted the local security organs. The conviction of the soldiers could, however, perhaps lead to the end of recklessness which targets innocent civilians.

GAROWE ONLINE