
The International Commission against the Death Penalty (ICDP) strongly condemns the reported executions of four children, on 17 August, carried out by authorities in the Somali state of Puntland. The four children were reportedly found guilty of committing crimes when they were under the age of 18 years while being allegedly associated with Al Shabaab, a group which has been involved in an armed insurgency against the government of Somalia. The executions were carried out despite Somalia being a State Party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which specifically prohibits capital punishment “for offences committed by persons below eighteen years of age”. Reports suggest that the four children were among 10 Al Shabab fighters who were executed by firing squad in Puntland after being sentenced to death for involvement in the killings in the city of Galkayo.
For further information, please read our public statement.