Tuesday June 25, 2024
Hargeisa (HOL) — President Muse Bihi Abdi of Somaliland has issued a presidential decree banning traditional elders, or clan leaders, from adjudicating rape cases, mandating that such cases be handled solely by the judicial system.
Effective immediately, traditional elders are prohibited from intervening in rape cases, with all accused individuals to be brought directly to court by the police. "I have decided that the crime of rape should be handled exclusively by the competent courts of the country to ensure that those accused of these crimes receive the legal punishment they deserve and to protect the basic rights and freedoms of citizens," President Abdi stated.
The President's directive, aimed at ensuring justice and safeguarding citizens' rights, instructs the Chief of Police and the Attorney General to strictly enforce the new policy. Abdi emphasized that rape cases must be resolved within the judicial system, underscoring the inadequacy of traditional methods in dealing with such serious crimes.
Traditional elders in Somaliland have historically wielded significant power in adjudicating rape cases, often resulting in outcomes perceived as unjust. The new decree seeks to rectify this by entrusting rape cases to the formal judicial system.