Thursday Oct 09 , 2025 {HMC} The Nugal Regional Court on Wednesday sentenced Sharmarke Hussein Yusuf to 25 years in prison after finding him guilty of kidnapping and raping three women, including two young sisters, in Garowe.

In its ruling, the court described Sharmarke as a habitual offender and a danger to society, noting that he had previously been convicted of raping one of the same victims in 2020.

newsinisdeThe court also ordered the defendant to pay a $25,000 fine, which will be distributed to the victims as compensation. The verdict, the court said, sends a strong warning to others who might commit similar crimes.

“This sentence serves as a message to anyone who dares to commit such acts,” said Abdikarin Mohamed Nur, chairman of the Nugal Regional Court. He added that the defendant has one month to appeal the ruling if he wishes to challenge the decision.

The case, which has gripped the Garowe community for months, involved young women from impoverished families who had moved to the city seeking work to support their parents.

According to police, Sharmarke abducted one of the victims earlier this year and raped her. Investigators used CCTV footage to identify and arrest the suspect days later.

Community members have widely welcomed the court’s ruling, viewing it as a rare but vital step toward justice for victims of sexual violence in Puntland.

Source hioiraan online

Thursday Oct 09 , 2025 {HMC}   The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Wednesday officially endorsed the restoration of Somalia’s full independence in managing its national human rights mandate, marking the end of more than three decades of international oversight.

The decision concludes the mandate of the UN Independent Expert on the Situation of Human Rights in Somalia, which was established in 1993.

“This is a momentous day for the Somali people and a powerful testament to our nation’s resilience and progress,” said Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, Minister of Family and Human Rights Development, who led the Somali delegation in Geneva. “We have demonstrated our unwavering commitment to building a future founded on justice, dignity, and accountability. We are prepared and eager to assume this sacred responsibility.”

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud also welcomed the UNHRC decision, calling it “a historic day” for Somalia.

“Somalia has made significant progress in governance and is ready to independently fulfill its national and international obligations to respect and protect human rights,” the president said.

The Somali government expressed gratitude to UNHRC members for their confidence and support, extending special thanks to international partners including the United Kingdom, Qatar, and Turkey for their continued collaboration in advancing Somalia’s human rights agenda.

Officials said the move marks the beginning of a new and hopeful chapter in Somalia’s state-building process, underscoring the country’s growing institutional capacity and international standing.

Source hioiraan online

Thursday Oct 09 , 2025 {HMC} The Somali Salvation Forum, a coalition of opposition groups, and the federal government have agreed for the second time to postpone a planned demonstration that was scheduled to take place on Thursday in Mogadishu.

The postponement comes amid security concerns following last week’s attack on Godka Jilacow prison.

Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, leader of the Wadajir Party and member of the Federal Parliament, said the decision was reached after a joint meeting between the Somali Salvation Forum, the government’s mediation committee, and senior security officials, including the police and intelligence commanders.

“We agreed to establish a joint security and coordination mechanism to ensure protesters can demonstrate safely and without interference. The government is expected to uphold citizens’ right to protest,” Abdishakur said.

The planned demonstration had initially been set for late September, but was delayed after government objections. Elders later mediated an agreement to hold the protest on October 9, before it was once again postponed.

Opposition groups say the protest aims to condemn the displacement of civilians from government-owned land and to challenge the government’s political and electoral agenda.

Source hioiraan online

Thursday Oct 09 , 2025 {HMC}  Somali government has strongly denied reports claiming it reached a “secret deal” with Sweden involving conditional development aid linked to the deportation of Somali nationals.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Office of the Prime Minister dismissed the allegations as “false, misleading, and unfounded.”

“Somalia has no secret or conditional arrangement with any partner concerning the return of its nationals or the allocation of development assistance,” the statement said.

The clarification followed media reports alleging that Somalia had agreed to accept deported Somalis from Sweden in exchange for development funding for a project linked to the Prime Minister’s Office.

“The cooperation between Somalia and Sweden is long-standing, transparent, and grounded in mutual respect and international law,” the statement added, emphasizing that all engagements between the two nations are conducted through formal diplomatic channels and are subject to cabinet oversight and institutional accountability.

The government noted that all development aid to Somalia is managed through transparent mechanisms, including the World Bank, UN agencies, and the Somali government’s financial system.

According to Statistics Sweden, there were nearly 70,000 Somali nationals living in Sweden as of 2024.

Source hioiraan online