Somalia Country of origin information report COI service 5 August 2013 Somalia 5 August 2013 Contents Preface Paragraphs 1. Security situation ................................................................................................. 1.01 Overview ............................................................................................................... 1.01 Protagonists ......................................................................................................... 1.05 Trends and statistics in security-related incidents and casualties .................. 1.10 Recording and reporting of data ......................................................................... 1.10 Numbers of fatalities and casualties ................................................................... 1.11 Trends in violence (2009 to 2013) .................................................................. 1.13 Type and nature of violence ................................................................................ 1.14 Security situation by region ................................................................................ 1.21 South and central Somalia ................................................................................. 1.22 Mogadishu ..................................................................................................... 1.25 Kismayo, Lower Juba and Gedo regions and ‗Jubaland‘ ............................... 1.29 Merka and Brava, Lower Shabelle, and Jowhar, Middle Shabelle ................. 1.34 Bay, Bakool and Hiraan ................................................................................. 1.35 Puntland/Somaliland .......................................................................................... 1.36 Puntland ......................................................................................................... 1.36 Somaliland ..................................................................................................... 1.38 2. Security forces ..................................................................................................... 2.01 Overview ............................................................................................................... 2.01 South and central Somalia .................................................................................. 2.02 Police ................................................................................................................. 2.02 National Security Services ................................................................................. 2.06 African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) and the Somali National Forces .. 2.07 Reform and training of Somali national forces .................................................... 2.09 Puntland ................................................................................................................ 2.11 Somaliland ............................................................................................................ 2.13 Human rights violations committed by Somali National Government, Puntland and Somaliland security forces .......................................................... 2.15 Indiscriminate use of force ................................................................................. 2.19 Arbitrary arrest and detention ............................................................................. 2.21 Torture, ill-treatment and extra-judicial killings ................................................... 2.26 Treatment of IDPs .............................................................................................. 2.28 Impunity .............................................................................................................. 2.30 3. Non-state armed groups ...................................................................................... 3.01 Armed groups ....................................................................................................... 3.01 Al Shabaab ......................................................................................................... 3.02 Clan militias ........................................................................................................ 3.05 Human rights violations by armed groups ......................................................... 3.06 Torture, ill-treatment and executions .................................................................. 3.08 Targets of attacks ............................................................................................... 3.13 Arbitrary arrest and detention ............................................................................. 3.15 Forced recruitment ............................................................................................. 3.16 Clan militias ........................................................................................................ 3.17 4. Judiciary, arrest and prison conditions, and use of the death penalty ........... 4.01 Judiciary ................................................................................................................ 4.01 South and central Somalia ................................................................................. 4.05 ii The main text of this COI Report contains the most up to date publicly available information as at 26 June 2013. 5 August 2013 Somalia Judicial procedures in areas occupied by al Shabaab ................................... 4.07 Puntland ............................................................................................................. 4.08 Somaliland ......................................................................................................... 4.10 Arrest rights and prison conditions .................................................................... 4.13 South and central Somalia ................................................................................. 4.17 Puntland and Somaliland ................................................................................... 4.20 Death penalty ........................................................................................................ 4.23 5. Political affiliation and expression ...................................................................... 5.01 South and central Somalia .................................................................................. 5.03 Somali National Government officials and supporters ........................................ 5.07 Puntland ................................................................................................................ 5.12 Somaliland ............................................................................................................ 5.15 6. Freedom of speech and media ............................................................................ 6.01 South and central Somalia .................................................................................. 6.06 Radio .................................................................................................................. 6.06 Journalists .......................................................................................................... 6.07 Puntland ................................................................................................................ 6.11 Television and radio ........................................................................................... 6.12 Journalists .......................................................................................................... 6.13 Somaliland ............................................................................................................ 6.14 Journalists .......................................................................................................... 6.16 7. Human rights and humanitarian institutions, organisations and activists ..... 7.01 South and central Somalia ................................................................................. 7.02 Puntland and Somaliland .................................................................................... 7.05 8. Freedom of religion .............................................................................................. 8.01 9. Ethnic groups ....................................................................................................... 9.01 Overview ............................................................................................................... 9.01 Clan system .......................................................................................................... 9.03 Customary law (xeer) and blood-compensation (diya or mag) ........................ 9.06 Clan protection ..................................................................................................... 9.09 Mogadishu .......................................................................................................... 9.14 Southern and central Somalia ............................................................................ 9.15 Background information on the majority clans and minority groups ................... 9.17 10. Sexual orientation and gender identity .............................................................. 10.01 Legal rights ........................................................................................................... 10.01 Societal treatment and attitudes ........................................................................