MOGADISHU – The Supreme Military Court of the Somali Armed Forces has sentenced four individuals affiliated with Al-Shabaab to prison terms ranging from life imprisonment to 10 years, after finding them guilty of involvement in bombings, targeted assassinations, espionage, and the coordination and transfer of explosives.
The four defendants were identified as Mohamed Abdullahi Abdulle (Suldaan), Aweys Abdalla Ali (Kaamiri/Shubka Saciid), Abdinasir Ali Ahmed (Ikrama), and Hassan Isaaq Rooble (Diiriye). Three of them were arrested while handling explosives and other materials at a chemical and paint storage facility, where they were engaged in operational activities.
Mohamed Abdullahi Abdulle (Suldaan), a former member of the defunct Hisbul Islam group, had been involved in facilitating the transfer of weapons for Al-Shabaab since 2012. Aweys Abdalla Ali (Kaamiri), who joined Al-Shabaab in 2017, was initially tasked with espionage and gathering intelligence on security forces before being redeployed to Mogadishu to carry out assassinations and bombings. He was also involved in planting explosives on CCTV cameras, which the group identified as an obstacle to their operations.
The military court has previously sentenced a senior Al-Shabaab commander to life imprisonment, demonstrating the judiciary’s determination to hold terrorist leaders accountable[reference:0].
Appeal Process and Supreme Court Ruling
The four defendants first appeared before the First Instance Military Court on November 21, 2024, where they received varying sentences. However, the Military Prosecutor’s Office, after further investigations that uncovered additional evidence, new victims, and previously unidentified damage, filed an appeal seeking harsher penalties.
The Supreme Military Court, presided over by Chairman of the Supreme Military Court, Colonel Liban Ali Yarow, heard the case on June 16, 2026. On July 4, it delivered its final verdict:
– Aweys Abdalla Ali (Kaamiri) and Abdinasir Ali Ahmed (Ikrama) were each sentenced to life imprisonment.
– Hassan Isaaq Rooble (Diiriye) was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
– Mohamed Abdullahi Abdulle (Suldaan) was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The military court has also carried out executions of Al-Shabaab operatives convicted of targeted killings and bomb attacks in Mogadishu, reflecting the government’s strict stance on terrorism[reference:1].
The Role of Espionage and Targeted Killings
The case highlights the use of espionage and targeted killings by Al-Shabaab as part of its operational strategy in Mogadishu and other urban centres. The defendants were found to have played active roles in planning and executing attacks against civilians, government officials, and security forces.
In a separate case, the military court executed three Al-Shabaab militants for their direct involvement in assassinations, roadside bombings, and attacks that killed government personnel and civilians, underscoring the government’s intensified crackdown on the militant group[reference:2].
Way Forward
The sentencing of the four Al-Shabaab operatives underscores the ongoing efforts of Somalia’s judicial and security institutions to hold perpetrators of terrorism accountable. As the federal government continues its military campaign against the group, the courts play a crucial role in dismantling the militant network and delivering justice to victims of terrorism.
