SOMALIA: ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2024

Coalition of Somali Human Rights Defenders (CSHRD)

Introduction

The year 2024 has been marked by profound challenges for human rights defenders (HRDs) and civil society in Somalia. Amid ongoing armed conflicts, political instability, and increasing authoritarian tendencies, HRDs have faced unprecedented threats, including targeted killings, arbitrary arrests, and forced disappearances. Despite these challenges, the Coalition of Somali Human Rights Defenders (CSHRD) has remained steadfast in its mission to document violations, advocate for victims, and push for justice and accountability.

This report presents a comprehensive overview of the human rights landscape in Somalia in 2024, highlighting key trends, major incidents, and our collective efforts to protect fundamental freedoms.

State of Human Rights in Somalia

Escalation of Threats Against HRDs and Journalists

In 2024, the Somali government and armed groups intensified crackdowns on HRDs, journalists, and civil society actors. The year witnessed:

23 cases of enforced disappearances of HRDs, many of whom remain missing.

At least 19 journalists arrested under vague anti-terror laws, with some subjected to torture.

Over 40 documented instances of media censorship, including forced shutdowns of independent radio stations in many parts and regions in Somalia.

The assassination of six human rights advocates, with Al-Shabaab and state-backed militias implicated.

“Voice of Truth: The Tragic Assassination of Amun Abdullahi”

Amuun Abdullahi in her farm – Photo Credit to her Social Media Account.

Amuun Abdullahi had once imagined a life far from the turmoil of her homeland. After years working as a journalist in Sweden, she had returned to Somalia with a plan to create a new path for herself, one removed from the threats that had haunted her since her investigations of child soldier recruitment in Europe. She had envisioned a life built around the land, a life of peace and promise. After returning to Somalia, Amuun invested her savings in a modest agricultural venture, hoping that her work in the quiet fields of Mohamud Adow could be a fresh start—a way to give back to her community without drawing Al-Shabaab’s ire.

Farming was her new world, her sanctuary. She tended to her crops with the same diligence she had once given to her investigations, finding solace in the soil and pride in the produce she shared with her village. Despite the threats that had once followed her, Amuun trusted that by leaving her career as a journalist and focusing on agriculture, she could escape the attention of Al-Shabaab and other hostile groups who had long been angered by her work. But Al-Shabaab, infamous for their brutal reprisals, did not forget those who had once spoken against them. Amuun’s exposure of child soldier recruitment, which had reached international audiences and embarrassed powerful figures, remained a dark mark in the memories of those who viewed her as a threat.

On October 18, 2024, this illusion of safety was shattered. In the early hours of the morning, two masked men approached her on her farm, moving through the fields she had poured her heart into. “Are you Amuun Abdullahi?” they demanded. Her heart pounded, but she held her ground, her voice calm. “It is me.” In an instant, with the cold calculation that had marked so many Al-Shabaab attacks, they shot her without a moment’s hesitation, silencing her forever.

As news of her assassination spread, the shock reverberated far beyond her village. Ikraan Cali Kaar and Ahmed Idaajaa, her former colleagues, could barely find words in an interview with VOA Somali, their voices cracking with disbelief. They knew what Amuun had risked—and lost—so that others might live free from fear. They mourned a friend, a voice for justice, and a courageous soul who had sought nothing more than to give back to her homeland. Amuun’s murder became a tragic symbol of the deep-rooted dangers facing journalists and human rights defenders in Somalia. Her return to Somalia had been a leap of faith, a decision to trust in her homeland’s ability to offer her a second chance. Instead, it revealed the tragic reality of a country where speaking the truth, even long ago and far away, could follow someone forever.

Her family, her friends, and those who knew her work were left grappling with a painful reality: in Somalia, the price of courage is often deadly. Amuun’s life and death stand as both a testament to the strength of those who fight for justice and a heart-breaking reminder of the brutal consequences that pursuit can bring. Though she rests in the land she had hoped would keep her safe, her legacy endures—guiding those who continue her fight, determined that the sacrifices of voices like hers will one day bring lasting peace.

The Coalition of Somali Human Rights Defenders (CSHRD) has issued a powerful condemnation of the murder of Amuun Abdullahi, denouncing the killing with the “strongest terms” and calling for an immediate investigation to bring those responsible to justice. The Coalition highlighted Amuun’s courage and commitment to human rights, emphasizing that her assassination is an attack not only on her but on all who stand for justice and freedom in Somalia.

In a bold message, the CSHRD also directed a warning to the Somali government, urging it to reject involvement in any enforced deportations of Somali nationals from the EU Nordic countries, where immigration policies are increasingly influenced by dangerous ideologies, including xenophobia and manipulation, as the case is in Iceland and Norway. The Coalition expressed deep concern about the alarming rise of racial intolerance and Nazi-linked influences within some European immigration systems, which have cast a shadow over the safety of returning Somalis.

The CSHRD underscored that if voluntary returnees come back to Somalia, they must do so with their full rights and safety guaranteed, without facing the danger and discrimination that Amuun herself had hoped to escape. The organization reaffirmed its commitment to protecting those who, like Amuun, have worked tirelessly to create a safer Somalia, urging the international community to support this call for justice and accountability.

Gender-Based Violence and Women’s Rights Violations

Somalia remains one of the most dangerous places for women and girls, with gender-based violence (GBV) reaching alarming levels:

Over 1,200 reported cases of sexual violence, with many more unreported due to stigma.

The reintroduction of the Sexual Intercourse Bill, which threatens to legalize child marriage, was met with widespread condemnation by HR groups.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) remains widespread, affecting nearly 98% of Somali women, despite ongoing advocacy efforts.

The case of the year 2024

Mogadishu court sentences Sayid Ali to death for burning his pregnant wife

Wednesday March 6, 2024

Mogadishu (HOL) – The Banadir Regional Court sentenced Sayid Ali Moalin Daoud to death on Wednesday for burning his pregnant wife, Luul Abdiaziz, to death in Mogadishu in January 2024.

During the trial, Daoud admitted to starting the fire after having a dispute with her but denied intending to kill his wife, disputing the murder charges against him. The prosecution presented evidence, including the charred remains of Abdiaziz’s phone and testimonies from eyewitnesses, including her children, to build their case against him.

Despite the court mentioning that an appeal is open to Daoud, family members of Luul welcomed the court’s decision.

Najah, one of the relatives of the deceased, thanked the media and the public for showing support for Luul to get justice. “We know that Luul has not only left her family, but she has left all the people.”

The victim, Luul Sheikh Abdiaziz, was a respected employee at Aden Abdulle International Airport and the mother of six. She died at Erdogan Hospital from injuries sustained in the blaze, which prosecutors allege was ignited by Daoud following a domestic argument.

The Mayor of Mogadishu, Yusuf Hussein Jimale Madale, pledged to support Luul’s orphaned children, providing both financial assistance and social services to help the children cope with the loss of their mother and the traumatic circumstances surrounding her death.

3. Minority and Indigenous Rights

Indigenous and minority communities, including the El Ali and Bantu groups, faced continued brutality by al-shabaab terrorists and systemic extortion.

Forced Evictions in Somalia, where CSHRD documented:

120 cases of forced evictions in Mogadishu and Kismayo alone. Throughout the presidency term of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, forced evictions of civilians from their homes and auctioning the evicted homes both in Mogadishu and in Kismayo as victims, witnesses and local media reports confirmed. It is widely to blame the widespread corruption within the government of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and this led to an increased displacement due to government-backed land grabs and clan-based discrimination.

4. Armed Conflicts, Extrajudicial Killings, and Disappearances

Somalia’s security situation deteriorated as:

Government forces and Al-Shabaab clashed, resulting in mass civilian casualties.

At least 370 civilian deaths were recorded due to drone strikes, air raids, and indiscriminate shelling in Raaskambooni, Yaaqbiriweyne, Hiiraan, Galkio and Erigavo, where different clan militias and state funded militias as well as Al-shabaab are fighting for control over territories and resources.

Extrajudicial killings by security forces increased, with over 80 documented cases of summary executions.

Attacks on Civil Society and Shrinking Civic Space

The Somali government continued to restrict civil society:

NGO registrations were revoked and NGO bank accounts were closed, and international organizations faced bureaucratic hurdles.Independent media houses were closed down and forced to self-censorship.

Both federal and regional states criminalize peaceful protests, leading to mass arrests of demonstrators.

HRDs both in Somalia in exile faced digital surveillance and transnational repression by Somalia and foreign entities concerned by their peaceful advocacy of human rights and fears over exposures of human rights violations by state and non-state actors.

CSHRD’s Advocacy and Impact in 2024

Despite these challenges, CSHRD has played a crucial role in defending human rights through:

Emergency Response and Protection

Assisted 17 HRDs in relocation to safe locations.

Provided legal aid to over 50 detained journalists and activists.

Conducted rapid response missions to document human rights violations.

Policy Advocacy and Legal Reforms

Led advocacy efforts against the shrinking civic space and ending impunity by a delegation to the international Criminal Criminal Court, ASP23 in the Hague in an effort to fulfil and facilitate the enforcement of the implementation of the latest UPR recommendation for Somalia.

Submitted reports to the UN Special Rapporteur on HRDs, resulting in international pressure on Somalia’s government.

Campaigned for the establishment of a National Human Rights Commission and policy paper that highlights challenges and recommended the alternative solution which is to establish a national Human Rights Ombudsman

Media and Awareness Campaigns

Published over 100 investigative reports on human rights abuses.

Hosted weekly roundtable discussions to mitigate the challenges and build alliances and amplifying HRD voices.

Trained 250 journalists on ethical reporting in conflict zones.

Rehabilitated and treated 2,300 torture victims all over Somalia

Communicated with clan elders and intellectuals and with the International Committee of the Red Cross office in Somalia to facilitate the release of prisoners of war by both sides to conflict in LasAnod.

4. International Partnerships and Solidarity

Strengthened collaborations with both national and international stakeholders.

Advocated for HRDs’ protection and temporary relocation programs to improve their safety.

Partnered with the International and African human rights networks to push for stronger protections.

III. Looking Ahead: Priorities for 2025

Strengthening HRD protection mechanisms by establishing safe houses and emergency funding.

Lobbying for Somalia’s adherence to international human rights treaties.

Expanding media advocacy through digital platforms and investigative journalism.

Enhancing legal support for victims of state violence and unlawful detentions.

Pushing for women’s rights protections, including anti-FGM laws and gender equality policies.

Conclusion

2024 has been a critical year for Somalia’s human rights movement. While threats against HRDs and civil society have intensified, the resilience of activists remains unshaken. CSHRD will continue its unwavering commitment to defending freedoms, seeking justice for victims, and holding perpetrators accountable.

We call upon the international community, donors, and human rights allies to stand with Somalia’s HRDs in the fight for justice and dignity.

Coalition of Somali Human Rights Defenders (CSHRD)

Website: www.cshrds.org

Email: info@cshrds.org

Contact: +252 xxx xxx xxx

#StandWithHRDs #JusticeForSomalia #EndImpunity