2/2014 ENG Update on security and protection issues in Mogadishu and South-Central Somalia Including information on the judiciary, issuance of documents, money transfers, marriage procedures and medical treatment Joint report from the Danish Immigration Service’s and the Norwegian Landinfo’s fact finding mission to Nairobi, Kenya and Mogadishu, Somalia 1 to 15 November 2013 Copenhagen, March 2014 LANDINFO Danish Immigration Service Storgata 33a, PB 8108 Dep. Ryesgade 53 0032 Oslo 2100 Copenhagen Ø Phone: +47 23 30 94 70 Phone: 00 45 35 36 66 00 Web: www.landinfo.no Web: www.newtodenmark.dk E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Overview of Danish fact finding reports published in 2012, 2013 and 2014 Update (2) On Entry Procedures At Kurdistan Regional Government Checkpoints (Krg); Residence Procedures In Kurdistan Region Of Iraq (Kri) And Arrival Procedures At Erbil And Suleimaniyah Airports (For Iraqis Travelling From Non-Kri Areas Of Iraq), Joint Report of the Danish Immigration Service/UK Border Agency Fact Finding Mission to Erbil and Dahuk, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), conducted 11 to 22 November 2011 2012: 1 Security and human rights issues in South-Central Somalia, including Mogadishu, Report from Danish Immigration Service’s fact finding mission to Nairobi, Kenya and Mogadishu, Somalia, 30 January to 19 February 2012 2012: 2 Afghanistan, Country of Origin Information for Use in the Asylum Determination Process, Rapport from Danish Immigration Service’s fact finding mission to Kabul, Afghanistan, 25 February to 4 March 2012 2012: 3 Chechens in the Russian Federation – residence registration, racially motivated violence and fabricated criminal cases, Joint report from the Danish Immigration Service’s and Danish Refugee Council’s fact finding mission to Moscow and St Petersburg, the Russian Federation from 23 May to 5 June 2012 2012: 4 Update on security and human rights issues in South- and Central Somalia, including Mogadishu, Joint report from the Danish Immigration Service’s and the Norwegian Landinfo’s fact finding mission to Nairobi, Kenya and Mogadishu, Somalia, 17 to 28 October 2012 2013: 1 Iran - On Conversion to Christianity, Issues concerning Kurds and Post-2009 Election Protestors as well as Legal Issues and Exit Procedures, Joint report from the Danish Immigration Service, the Norwegian LANDINFO and Danish Refugee Council’s fact-finding mission to Tehran, Iran, Ankara, Turkey and London, United Kingdom, 9 November to 20 November 2012 and 8 January to 9 January 2013 2013: 2 Somalia - Security and protection in Mogadishu and South-Central Somalia Joint report from the Danish Immigration Service’s and the Norwegian Landinfo’s fact finding mission to Nairobi, Kenya and Mogadishu, Somalia 6 April to 7 May 2013. 2013:3 Iranian Kurds; On Conditions for Iranian Kurdish Parties in Iran and KRI, Activities in the Kurdish Area of Iran, Conditions in Border Area and Situation of Returnees from KRI to Iran, Joint report from the Danish Immigration Service’s and Danish Refugee Council’s fact finding mission to Erbil and Sulaimania, KRI, 30 May to 9 June 2013 2013: 4 Uganda - Situation of LGBT persons in Uganda. Joint report from the Danish Immigration Service’s and the Danish Refugee Council’s fact finding mission to Kampala, Uganda from 16 to 25 June 2013. 2014:1 Contents Introduction and disclaimer ................................................................................................................. 4 Recent political and military issues ..................................................................................................... 6 1 Security developments in Mogadishu ............................................................................................... 9 1.1 Security in Mogadishu and its outskirts ................................................................................ 9 1.1.1 Internal divisions and infighting within al-Shabaab ......................................................... 10 1.2 Influence of al-Shabaab in Mogadishu ................................................................................ 13 1.3 Security for civilians and civilian casualties in Mogadishu ................................................ 17 1.4 Situation for Diaspora people in Mogadishu ....................................................................... 21 1.5 Al-Shabaab tracking down defectors ....................................................................................... 23 1.6 Treatment of al-Shabaab defectors/Serendi Youth Rehabilitation Center ............................... 25 1.6.1 Abductions in Somalia ...................................................................................................... 29 1.7 Recruitment to al-Shabaab ....................................................................................................... 29 1.8 Forced marriages to al-Shabaab fighters .................................................................................. 31 1.9 Targeted attacks ....................................................................................................................... 31 1.10 Gender Based Violence (GBV).............................................................................................. 32 2 Protection and livelihood issues in Mogadishu............................................................................... 35 2.1 Clan affiliation and protection ................................................................................................. 35 2.2 Performance of police and security forces ............................................................................... 36 2.3 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees ................................................................... 38 2.3.1 Displaced persons and access to humanitarian assistance .................................................... 39 2.2 Needs in order to settle or reestablish in Mogadishu ............................................................... 40 2.3 Internal Flight Alternative/Relocation ..................................................................................... 41 2.4 Return to S/C Somalia .............................................................................................................. 42 3 Security developments in South/Central Somalia ........................................................................... 47 3.1 General developments in S/C Somalia..................................................................................... 47 3.1.1 Human rights abuses in government controlled areas ...................................................... 48 Security and protection in Mogadishu and S/C Somalia 3.1.2 Human rights abuses in al-Shabaab controlled areas ........................................................ 48 3.2 Kismayo ................................................................................................................................... 49 3.3 Lower Shabelle ........................................................................................................................ 50 3.3.1 Brava ................................................................................................................................. 51 3.3.2 Merka ................................................................................................................................ 51 3.4 Jowhar .................................................................................................................................. 52 3.5 Belet Weyne ......................................................................................................................... 52 3.5.1 Baidoa ............................................................................................................................... 53 3.5.2 Interim Jubba administration (Lower and Middle Jubba and Gedo regions) ................... 54 3.6 Border areas with Ethiopia and Kenya .................................................................................... 55 3.7 Security situation in al-Shabaab controlled areas .................................................................... 55 4 The formal justice system ............................................................................................................... 57 4.1 The judiciary ............................................................................................................................ 57 4.1.1 District courts in S/C Somalia ........................................................................................... 58 4.1.2 Courts in Mogadishu and Benadir region ......................................................................... 58 4.1.3 Military courts ................................................................................................................... 59 4.1.4 Threats against the judiciary in Mogadishu ...................................................................... 60 4.2 Prison conditions ...................................................................................................................... 60 5 Freedom of movement .................................................................................................................... 62 5.1 Freedom of movement in Mogadishu ...................................................................................... 62 5.2 Women’s freedom of movement in Mogadishu ...................................................................... 63 5.3 Freedom of movement in al-Shabaab