Nugaal Elders Move to Enforce Death Penalty Amid Rising Murder Rates in Somalia

Garowe (Sahan Post) – Cases of premeditated killings have surged across Somalia in recent months, with hundreds of lives lost each month due to disputes that could have been resolved through non-violent means. In response to the escalating crisis, traditional leaders and community elders in the Nugaal region have intensified efforts to implement a recently signed peace accord addressing rising murders, land grabs, and other communal conflicts.

The committee of traditional elders responsible for disseminating and enforcing the agreement has delivered the accord to all relevant government offices. They emphasized that, moving forward, the implementation of the pact will be jointly carried out by the Nugaal regional administration and the elders.

Caaqil Abshir Cali Halow, a member of the committee overseeing the initiative, stated that anyone who deliberately commits murder will henceforth face the death penalty, with no possibility of tribes paying compensation (diyo) to avoid legal consequences.

“There will be no alternative paths. Anyone who intentionally kills another person will face the full force of the law, including the death penalty. The government, the security forces, and the judiciary are fully committed to enforcement, and the elders stand firmly with them,” said Caaqil Abshir Cali Halow.

Under Islamic law, the Somali Penal Code, and Puntland’s regional legal framework, intentional murder is legally punishable by execution. However, this process has long been undermined by clan negotiations and the payment of diyah (blood compensation), which often allow perpetrators to escape formal justice. This has contributed significantly to the rise in killings, as weakened legal consequences embolden offenders.

Meanwhile, the Somali Penal Code, now decades old, has not undergone substantial reform for many years, further complicating efforts to address modern criminal challenges.

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