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This topic in the Ma Huraan film has sparked intense discussion on social media in recent weeks.

This week, Mohamed Bulbul sat down with Anfa Aden Abdi to talk about the often unspoken issue of sexual violence against women at work—and the brave women who are trying to break the silence around it.

The post Baraarug Podcast: Confronting Sexual Violence Against Women in Somalia appeared first on Kaab TV.

Sheikh Abdullahi Ahmed Garrun asserts that the role of religious scholars is no less significant than that of journalists, as clarified by the Hadith of the Prophet [SCW].

However, religious scholars face challenges, including threats from extremist groups and those who seek to undermine their role.

Now, Sheikh Abdullahi is calling for more proactive role and participation be given to the clerics.

The post The Role of Religious Scholars in Human Rights Advocacy in Somalia appeared first on Kaab TV.

The case, brought before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), is spearheaded by Somali Member of Parliament Abdullahi Hashi Abib, a staunch advocate for human rights and transparent governance.

MP Abib filed the complaint on January 29 on behalf of former employees of the Central Bank of Somalia (CBS).

The case also lists CBS Governor Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (also known as Abdi Mohamed Abdullahi) as a co-defendant.

The lawsuit accuses the Somali president, Premier Bank, and the CBS governor of forcibly evicting vulnerable families and unlawfully seizing property owned by former CBS employees.

According to the application obtained by Kaab TV, the plaintiffs argue that these properties were illegally transferred to Premier Bank via an executive order issued by President Mohamud, despite a final ruling by a Somali court affirming the employees’ ownership rights.

Forced Evictions and Illegal Asset Seizure

“Hon. Dr. Abdullahi Hashi Abib is filing this case on behalf of CBS employees whose properties were unlawfully transferred to Premier Bank through an illegal executive order,” the application states.

The lawsuit further alleges that Premier Bank knowingly acquired these assets under the illegal order, and instead of depositing the funds into the Treasury Single Account (TSA) as required by law, payments were directly made to President Mohamud and Governor Abdullahi.

Filed under Article 36(2) of the ICJ Statute, the case invokes the court’s jurisdiction over international law violations, state corruption, financial crimes, and human rights abuses, including the right to property.

The plaintiff is requesting the ICJ to:

• Declare the executive order null and void and restore full ownership rights to affected CBS employees.
• Order the Somali government and CBS to comply with the Somali court ruling and compensate affected employees for damages.
• Impose legal and financial sanctions on President Mohamud, Governor Abdullahi, and Premier Bank for their unlawful actions.
• Investigate and prosecute the alleged diversion of sale proceeds into private accounts.
• Issue an injunction preventing Premier Bank from engaging in further transactions involving disputed assets until full legal compliance is ensured.

This case comes amid a surge in forced evictions across Mogadishu, where thousands of vulnerable families, including women and children, have been rendered homeless.

Powerful land grabbers continue to tighten their grip on the city, exacerbating the crisis.

In the latest wave of evictions, thousands of families living in Ex-Carwada Qaranka, an abandoned government property in central Mogadishu, were forcibly removed last week.

The post Somali MP Files Landmark Human Rights Case Against President Hassan Sheikh and Premier Bank appeared first on Kaab TV.

Tukeh, 71, had resided in Springfield, Virginia, and served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Somali National Army, commanding the Fifth Brigade from May 1987 to July 1988.

During this time, the Somali National Army carried out atrocities including the killing, torture, and detention of civilians, burning entire towns, the unlawful use of landmines, and the destruction of water reservoirs to target civilian populations.

Arrested in November 2022, Ali was found guilty of torture and extrajudicial killings by a U.S. Department of Justice immigration judge, who issued a 65-page ruling on February 8, 2024.

The court ordered his removal to Somalia, which was carried out on December 20, 2024, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Russell Hott, acting Executive Associate Director of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, stated, “The United States will not be a safe haven for those who commit human rights violations, and we will persist in our efforts to pursue justice for the victims of these crimes. Though justice was delayed in this case, it ultimately prevailed.”

Col. Tukeh has since returned to Lasanod in the Sool region, where he was reportedly welcomed by members of his clan.

Tukeh’s deportation is part of broader efforts by the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center, established in 2008, to identify and remove individuals responsible for genocide, torture, and other serious crimes.

Led by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, the center has stopped more than 390 suspected human rights violators from entering the U.S. and removed over 1,150 known offenders.

Since 2003, ICE has arrested more than 520 individuals for human rights-related violations and currently has over 180 active investigations involving suspects from 95 countries.

This case highlights the U.S. commitment to denying safe harbor to human rights violators and ensuring justice for their victims.

Upon his arrival in Lasanod, Ali addressed a crowd of supporters, saying, “I am very glad to be here in Lasanod today. I want to thank those who have supported me over the past 32 years. I am happy to die today because I am in a free Lasanod with its strong army.”

The post Somali Colonel Welcomed in Lasanod After Removal from U.S for Human Rights Violations appeared first on Kaab TV.

The report which has been published this week highlights the alarming human rights violations persisting in the country, with both Al-Shabaab and the fragmented Somali federal government and its regional states being the primary perpetrators.

The U.S. Secretary of State’s report explicitly identified Somalia as among the countries where governmental armed forces or government-supported armed groups recruited and used child soldiers during the reporting period of April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022.

Shockingly, Somalia recruited and utilized hundreds of child soldiers in 2022 alone, marking a grave failure to enforce a critical provision of U.S. law aimed at preventing the exploitation of child soldiers.

Somalia, a significant recipient of U.S. military aid in sub-Saharan Africa, has been allocated roughly $3 billion in U.S. security assistance and support for African Union peacekeeping operations over the past decade. Despite this substantial aid, the recruitment and use of child soldiers persist, casting a dark shadow on the effectiveness of such support.

UN REPORT

The United Nations has also documented a distressing total of 1,094 children, with some as young as eight years old, who were recruited and used by both Al-Shabaab and the Somali government forces, including its regional states.

The plight of children embroiled in conflict is growing increasingly dire, with the United Nations reporting the highest number of grave violations against children in conflict on record in 2022.

According to the UN report, these children were forced into combat, used in support roles, and subjected to unknown purposes, adding to the harrowing realities on the ground.

The responsibility for these grave violations lies with the Somali police force, the national intelligence (NISA), the Somali military (SNA), and regional forces of Puntland, Jubbaland, Hirshabelle, Galmudug, and clan militias, all of whom have been identified as the main perpetrators.

Furthermore, the report revealed a disturbing rise in sexual violence against children, with 221 cases reported, including 219 girls and two boys, victimized by unidentified perpetrators, government security forces, Al-Shabaab, clan militias, and regional forces, as verified by the UN.

The documented cases include incidents of rape, totaling about 146 confirmed cases.

The Biden Administration has yet to demonstrate a clear resolve and effective enforcement to halt child recruitment into the ranks of Somali forces and allied militias.

This failure implicates the administration in violating its own laws and policies, raising concerns about the commitment to address the distressing human rights situation in Somalia.

The post Child soldiers and rape emerge as grim realities in Somalia frontlines appeared first on Kaab TV.

Recent testimonies from released detainees shed light on his alleged detention at the notorious Godka Jilaow detention facility, operated by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).

Abdiaziz Mohamed Abba, a 44-year-old father of 11 children and a member of the minority Banadiri group, has been missing from his family for a distressing period of 4 months and 22 days. Recent testimonies from released detainees, whom I had the opportunity to interview, indicate… pic.twitter.com/gLqneN4Bks

— Abdalle Ahmed Mumin (@Cabdalleaxmed) June 3, 2023

Abdiaziz, who was born and raised in Mogadishu to a Banadiri family, led a modest yet content life with his wife and children. On 19 February 2023, he vanished from his printing house located near the Hared Mosque in the bustling Bakaro market. A colleague from the same printing house also disappeared during the same day.

The colleague, who was later released and requested anonymity, confirmed that both he and Abdiaziz were apprehended by armed individuals associated with NISA. They were subsequently taken to Godka Jilaow, where they reportedly endured repeated acts of torture. However, while the colleague was eventually freed, Abdiaziz remained in detention, enduring intensified torture. The released detainees we interviewed verified that he has not had access to legal representation or received any visits from his family.

Involvement of officials from the Ministry of Justice

Disturbingly, Abdiaziz’s family has shared additional details suggesting the involvement of senior officials from the federal Ministry of Justice. Just two days before his disappearance, Abdiaziz received a phone call from State Minister of Justice Mumino Sheikh Omar, who urged him to wait for two days.

The minister’s call coincided with Abdiaziz’s filing of cases at both the Bondhere and Wadajir district courts. In these legal actions, he accused well-connected individuals of attempting to illegally seize his family’s land and property, as supported by reviewed documents and family accounts.

One filing made on 17 November 2022 targeted a man named Habib Omar Sheikh, whom Abdiaziz accused of trying to take over a house and land property in the Bondhere district. Despite facing pressure from government officials, Abdiaziz persisted and filed a similar lawsuit at the Wadajir district court. Court documents reviewed by our reporter reveal that the court issued a decision to summon Habib Omar Sheikh and restrict his travel due to his non-compliance with the summons.

As the court’s decision remained unimplemented, Abdiaziz sought enforcement through the higher court, as described by the family. It was during this period that Habib Omar Sheikh allegedly conspired with influential officials at the Ministry of Justice in Mogadishu.

On 17 February, Abdiaziz received a call from State Minister of Justice Mumino Sheikh Omar, who is related to Habib, advising him not to take further actions and to wait for two days. Subsequently, on 19 February, Abdiaziz vanished.

When contacted for comments regarding Abdiaziz’s case, State Minister Mumino Sheikh Omar abruptly ended the call and did not respond afterward. Minister of Justice Hassan Sheikh Ali declined to address this specific case. However, Chairman of the Somali Military Court, Liban Ali Yarow, confirmed his awareness of Abdiaziz’s situation and stated that he had contacted NISA on 1 June 2023. As of now, no response has been received from NISA.

Abdiaziz’s family now appeals for detailed information regarding his whereabouts since 19 February 2022 and demands his immediate release from unlawful detention. They are also concerned about the protection of their property and land, as reports suggest that one of the properties mentioned in the court documents may have been sold during Abdiaziz’s detention.

According to Human Rights Watch, NISA has been known to arbitrarily detain individuals, including those from minority groups, subjecting them to coercive treatment, interrogations, denial of access to family and legal counsel, threats, and occasional beatings and torture. In November 2022, the UN Committee against Torture (CAT) released a report documenting the findings of its investigation into NISA which revealed instances of torture, ill-treatment, and sexual violence perpetrated by NISA.

The Banadir community, from which Abdiaziz hails, is believed to be descended from Arab immigrant settlers in Somalia. Unlike dominant clans, minority groups like the Banadiri lack sufficient local and international protection. Recurring insecurity caused by conflict renders them vulnerable and disproportionately displaced from their homes.

Local human rights organizations have also expressed concern over the denial of land and livestock ownership rights for minority groups in Somalia. Minorities often find themselves restricted to traditional occupations such as blacksmithing and shoemaking, facing marginalization and discrimination.

The case of Abdiaziz Mohamed Abba highlights the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and the protection of human rights in Somalia, particularly for vulnerable minority groups.

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