A court in central Somalia has sentenced a woman to death by firing squad after finding her guilty of murdering a 14-year-old girl in a case that has provoked widespread public outrage.
The Court in Gaalkacyo, a divided city straddling the border of Puntland and Galmudug states of Somalia, delivered the verdict on Monday following weeks of intense national attention.
The convicted woman, Hodan Mahmoud Diiriye, 34, was found responsible for the killing of Sabiriin Saylaan Abdille, who died in what prosecutors described as a “brutal and deliberate” attack.
The court said it had reviewed extensive evidence, including video footage documenting the circumstances of the killing—material that has shocked many Somalis and triggered protests and calls for accountability.
In the same ruling, the court cleared Cabdicasiis Nuur Xaashi Calas, 65, of direct involvement in the murder. However, he was convicted of “administrative negligence” connected to the case and sentenced to one year in prison and a $500 (Sh64,910) fine.
The body of the deceased remains in the Gaalkacyo hospital mortuary as the family prepares for burial.
The case has stirred strong emotions across Somalia.
On Monday, roads in parts of the city were closed as crowds gathered outside the courthouse in anticipation of the verdict. The judgment was made in the midst of public pressure on the justice system to deliver a decisive response.
The speed of the trial and the attention it received are unusual in a country where many such cases never make it to court.
Gaalkacyo, long troubled by insecurity and political fragmentation, has seen several high-profile criminal investigations in recent years.
