Somali Court Sends Strong Message with Death Sentence for Rogue Officer

 

Somali Court Sends Strong Message with Death Sentence for Rogue Officer

In a landmark ruling, a Somali military court has sentenced a former officer from the Haram’ad special police unit to death by firing squad for the unprovoked killing of an unarmed day laborer, Ali Iskow Daud.

The court found Bakar Abdiaziz Mohamed guilty of shooting the 36-year-old victim near Ali Boolaay Mosque in Mogadishu on June 28. Prosecutors said Mohamed asked, “Why are you looking at me?” before opening fire. He fled the scene but was arrested the same day.

Chief Judge Col. Hassan Ali Nur Shuute confirmed the sentence would be carried out under qisaas, the Islamic principle of retributive justice, after the victim’s family pursued capital punishment.

The ruling sparked public support and praise from rights advocates, who view it as a rare step toward accountability within Somalia’s security forces—especially units like Haramcad, which have faced repeated allegations of abuse.

“This verdict sends a message that no one is above the law,” a family member said.

While the government has remained silent on the case, the decision has renewed calls for broader reforms and stronger oversight to prevent future abuses and rebuild public trust.