CSHRD Quarterly Human Rights Situation Report – IV
2025 (October–December)
CSHRD Human Rights Quarterly Report IV 2025
Introduction
This Quarterly Human Rights Situation Report is produced by the Coalition of Somali Human Rights Defenders (CSHRD) and covers the period from October to December 2025. The report documents key human rights trends and violations across Somalia, identifying both patterns of abuse and structural drivers of violations linked to state and non-state actors. Particular attention is given to the rapid contraction of civic space, forced displacement or evictions linked to development projects, and emerging risks to electoral integrity ahead of the 2026 elections.
State sponsored militias perpetrating extra judicial and summary killings in Shabelle regions of Somalia and sexual violence against women and girls in armed conflict settings.
The report is prepared in line with human rights reporting / documentation standards and is intended to inform all stakeholders on the situation of human rights in Somalia, and available for the use of international and regional human rights mechanisms. It highlights urgent protection concerns while situating violations within broader governance, accountability, and rule-of-law failures.
Methodology
CSHRD gathered and verified information through a combination of direct field monitoring by trained local human rights defenders, confidential interviews with victims and witnesses, remote documentation, review of official statements and open-source material, and collaboration with trusted civil society networks across federal regiona states.
Given the high-risk operating environment, some locations, dates, and personal details have been anonymised to protect victims and monitors. Information was triangulated wherever possible to ensure credibility and reliability. The report reflects verified trends and emblematic cases rather than an exhaustive record of all violations during the reporting period, consistent with UN human rights reporting practice and other international human rights organizations.
Topics Covered in this Report
Forced Evictions (with focus on World Bank–funded projects)
During Q4 2025, CSHRD documented continued forced evictions¹ affecting internally displaced persons (IDPs) and economically marginalised urban communities, particularly in Mogadishu and other major urban centres. Evictions were frequently carried out without adequate notice, genuine consultation, compensation, or provision of alternative housing, in violation of international human rights standards, including the right to adequate housing (ICESCR, art. 11; UN Basic Principles and Guidelines on Development-Based Evictions).
Several eviction incidents² occurred in areas linked to urban development, infrastructure, and land regularisation initiatives supported by international financial institutions, including projects associated with World Bank financing. Affected communities reported lack of transparency, inaccessible grievance mechanisms, and intimidation by local authorities and security forces when attempting to raise concerns. These practices raise serious concerns regarding compliance with the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework, particularly Environmental and Social Standard 5 on Land Acquisition, Restrictions on Land Use, and Involuntary Resettlement.
Women, children, persons with disabilities, and minority communities were disproportionately affected. Forced evictions exposed already vulnerable populations to heightened risks of homelessness, food insecurity, interruption of education, gender-based violence, and loss of livelihoods, compounding Somalia’s protracted displacement crisis.
Civic Space
State increases crack down on journalists and human rights activists³ as it unleashes politicisation of local district administrations and electoral manipulation ahead of 2026
CSHRD observed a marked deterioration of civic space during the reporting period, characterised by increasing political control over local district administrations aligned with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (HSHM). Evidence indicates that these structures have been instrumentalised to consolidate political power and shape preparations for the 2026 electoral process⁴. Local district authorities were reportedly restructured, appointed, or informally directed to favour political parties and actors loyal to the President. Opposition-affiliated community representatives, traditional elders, journalists, and civil society organisations were excluded from consultations, subjected to administrative harassment, threatened with arrest, or restricted from organising public meetings. Such practices undermine political pluralism and violate the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly (ICCPR, arts. 19, 21, and 22), as well as the right to take part in public affairs (ICCPR, art. 25).
Politicised National Human Rights Commission⁵
CSHRD documented serious concerns regarding the establishment of a so-called “independent” National Human Rights Commission. The process lacked transparency, meaningful consultation with civil society, and safeguards to ensure independence, pluralism, and effectiveness, contrary to the UN Paris Principles relating to the status of national human rights institutions.
Information collected during Q4 2025 suggests that the commission has been used to legitimise official narratives and to obscure or minimise allegations of state-perpetrated human rights violations, particularly those linked to electoral manipulation, security operations, and repression of dissent. Human rights defenders, journalists, and opposition figures who criticised the commission or attempted to document related abuses faced intimidation, surveillance, arbitrary arrests, smear campaigns, and public vilification. These patterns are consistent with reprisals documented by UN Special Procedures against individuals cooperating with international human rights mechanisms.
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Torture
Gender-based violence remained widespread during Q4 2025, particularly affecting women and girls in displacement settings and conflict-affected areas. Documented violations included sexual violence, domestic violence, forced and early marriage, and exploitation. Survivors reported limited access to medical care, psychosocial support, safe shelters, and effective legal remedies, reflecting persistent gaps in protection and accountability (CEDAW; CRC).
CSHRD also documented cases of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, including beatings, stress positions, threats, and psychological abuse, primarily during detention by state security forces and allied militias. Victims included journalists, political opponents, and human rights defenders. These practices violate Somalia’s obligations under the Convention against Torture (CAT) and international customary law. Accountability mechanisms remained largely ineffective, contributing to a climate of impunity.
In recent armed conflict in Shabelle regions⁶, Government sponsored militias leader, known as Ahmed Gaashaan, in Wanlaweyn area is reported by the local to be responsible for the rape of at 50 women, whose age vary (15 – 50), forced disappearances, summary and extra-judicial killings (estimated number of victims 100 – 300), motivated by clan cleansing and blackmailing all tracks using the highway from Mogadishu to Baidoa.
Extrajudicial and Summary Executions
During the reporting period, CSHRD recorded continued incidents of extrajudicial and summary executions attributed to state security forces, allied militias, and non-state armed groups. Victims included civilians accused of affiliation with armed opposition groups, political critics, and individuals targeted during security operations.
unarmed civilian gets killed by state militia in Yaaqbiriweyne district
vicinity 2.
Ahmed Gaashaan – State militia leader; (the man with eye glass) is confirmed by CSHRD through multiple source, to be responsible for serious multiple crimes that include (Rape, (sexual violence), forced disappearances, extra – judicial and summary killings in Yaaqbiriweyne area for the last seven years, with the last confirmed massacre in November 29, 2025, where his militias sprayed bullets at civilians; mainly women and children shopping in a populous market in Yaaqbiriweyne.
Investigations into these killings were rare, opaque, or non-existent. Families seeking justice reported intimidation and threats, further undermining access to effective remedies. The absence of independent oversight and prosecutorial action entrenches impunity and violates the right to life under international law (ICCPR, art. 6).
Conclusions
The human rights situation in Somalia during Q4 2025 reflects a deepening crisis of governance, accountability, and rule of law. Forced evictions linked to development projects, systematic shrinking of civic space, politicisation of key institutions, and widespread impunity for serious violations have collectively eroded public trust in state authorities.
The manipulation of local district administrations and the establishment of a politicised national human rights institution pose serious risks to the integrity of the 2026 elections and to the safety of human rights defenders, journalists, and opposition actors. Without urgent corrective measures, these trends threaten to further destabilise Somalia’s fragile political and human rights environment.
Recommendations
To the Federal Government of Somalia
Immediately cease the use of local district administrations for political manipulation and ensure inclusive, transparent, and participatory electoral preparations in line with international standards.
Guarantee the independence, pluralism, and effectiveness of national human rights institutions in full compliance with the Paris Principles.
Halt forced evictions and ensure that any relocation complies with international standards, including genuine consultation, adequate compensation, and access to alternative housing.
Promptly, independently, and impartially investigate all allegations of torture, gender-based violence, and extrajudicial killings, and hold perpetrators accountable.
To International Partners, Donors, and IFIs
Condition political, security, and development assistance on measurable and time-bound human rights benchmarks.
Ensure that World Bank–funded and other development projects comply fully with safeguard policies and do not contribute to forced evictions or other human rights violations.
Increase protection, emergency support, and long-term capacity-building for Somali human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society organisations.
To the United Nations
Strengthen monitoring, public reporting, and follow-up on civic space restrictions, electoral integrity, and reprisals against human rights defenders.
Engage proactively and consistently with Somali authorities to prevent further deterioration of the human rights situation ahead of the 2026 elections.
References
1. Cruel evictions leave thousands of people pushed back into poverty in Mogadishu – Radio Ergo – Somali Humanitarian News and Information
2. Forced evictions, violence & lack of aid worsen Somalia’s humanitarian crisis: report – Somali Observatory for Humanitarian Affairs
3. Restricting Civil Space While Promoting Elections: A Contradiction in Somalia – WardheerNews
4. Lessons Learned From Today’s Bogus Mogadishu Local Elections – Kaab TV
5. No More Whitewashing: Somalia must uphold Constitution and International norms in forming human rights commission | Somali Journalists Syndicate
6. Somali Interior Minister meets clan leaders to Sddress clan conflict in Wanlaweyn district – Hiiraan Online
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