United States – The U.S. State Department’s 2024 Country Report on Human Rights Practices has raised alarm over the scale of violence and rights violations in Somalia, documenting abuses by government forces, regional authorities, and armed groups.
According to the report, Somali government security personnel were implicated in the deaths of at least 72 civilians between January and September 2024, figures that the United Nations has also tracked. The document accuses security agencies of arbitrary killings and the use of excessive force, with little accountability.
In the semi-autonomous Puntland region, authorities carried out the execution of four juveniles in August on terrorism charges. The move has drawn sharp criticism from rights groups, which argue that such actions breach international conventions protecting children and minors from capital punishment.
The report also singles out Somaliland, where security forces were accused of using “excessive force” to disperse anti-government protests in May, an incident that left multiple civilians dead.
Beyond state actors, the report highlights ongoing atrocities committed by Al-Shabaab, which continues to stage deadly bombings, assassinations, and attacks on civilians across the country. Clan militias were also implicated in widespread violence, including revenge killings and forced displacement.
The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) was not spared from criticism. The report documents cases of extrajudicial killings attributed to AU peacekeepers, underscoring persistent concerns about civilian protection during military operations.
Human rights watchdogs say the findings reinforce long-standing concerns that Somalia’s fragile security environment is being worsened not only by extremist violence but also by the heavy-handed conduct of forces meant to safeguard civilians.
Analysts warn that unless meaningful accountability measures are enforced, the cycle of violence and impunity is likely to continue undermining Somalia’s stabilization and state-building efforts.