Somalia executes two Al-Shabab militants by firing squad

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Two men were executed by firing squad on Monday after a Somali military court found them guilty of killing a leading elder in the capital, Mogadishu in 2016, Garowe Online reports.

The men - Hassan Ali Hassan 25, and Abdirahman Isse Ali 22 were hooded and tied to poles with their hands behind their backs in a field at a police academy square in the seaside city before being shot dead.

The extremists have been arrested by Somali security forces shortly after murdering a traditional elder Hilowle Heefow Hussein in Mogadishu's Wadajir area on November 2, 2016, according to a court judge.

"The court executed Hassan Ali (25), and Abdirahman Isse (22) who were found guilty for the killing Hilowle Heefow in Mogadishu on Nov 2, 2016," said Deputy prosecutor Mumin Hussein Abdullahi.

The executions were part of a crackdown in which suspected Al Shabab members have been tried by military courts since 2011 in an attempt to minimize series of killings blamed on al Shabaab Islamists.

Critics say international human rights standards largely prohibit trials of civilians before military courts.

The sudden increase in summary executions in Somalia under the leadership of president Farmajo, a Dual Somali-US citizen has drawn the attention of human rights groups.

In recent months, the Al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab insurgents have intensified gun and bomb attacks in Mogadishu. Last November, fighters attacked Sahafi hotel at KM4 area killing at least at least 50 people.

GAROWE ONLINE