Military court hands 'rogue' soldier death sentence in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A military court handed a rogue soldier a death sentence in Somalia, following a thorough prosecution that warranted conviction based on evidence availed during the trial, which has lasted for over a year in the Horn of Africa nation.

Somalia military courts play a key role in the prosecution of criminal cases given the deep-rooted challenges in civilian courts and have won a reputation over the years throughout the state-building struggles in the country. Soldiers and Al-Shabaab fighters are major 'clients' of these courts.

On Wednesday, the court handed Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud alias Tokiyo a death sentence for the deliberate death of Abdijabar Mohamed Hassan on August 12, 2022. The prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt, the court said.

According to evidence availed in the military court, Hassan was killed in a restaurant within Hodan District in Mogadishu where the victim was stabbed to death. He was pronounced dead immediately after the scuffle.

Mohamud, who fled after the murder, surrendered to the military on January 28, 2024, following an extended search. After an investigation, the Military Court's Prosecution Office requested the case's closure, which was granted on February 18, 2024, records show.

Elsewhere, a senior commander of local militia survived death on Wednesday within Qoryoley district, in the Lower Shabelle region, after an explosion engineered by Al-Shabab killed five soldiers, who were pursuing them.

There are conflicting reports that the soldiers are also fighting among themselves over clan differences but both have frequently come under attack from the Al-Shabaab, who are fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia.

Somalia's government declared total war in the fight against Al-Shabaab and the operations carried out in recent years have left thousands of militants dead. Local militia have closely worked with security teams including the Somali National Army in neutralizing the militants.

GAROWE ONLINE