Military Court Sentences Ex-Private to Death for Intentional Murder

Gedo, (SONNA) - The Armed Forces Court of First Instance has sentenced Ex-Private Mohamud Ahmed Afrah (nicknamed Dhashiike) to death by firing squad for the intentional murder of a civilian.

The court heard that the soldier fatally shot Abdiaziz Sheikh Hussein on May 15, 2026, in the Luuq district of the Gedo region following a trivial dispute over a cigarette lighter. According to investigators, the altercation escalated when the victim refused to hand over his lighter to the soldier. Ex-Private Afrah then fired two rounds from an AK-47 assault rifle, killing the civilian instantly.

Following a comprehensive investigation, the Office of the Military Prosecution formally requested the court to open proceedings on September 3, 2026.

Announcing the verdict to the media, the Chairman of the Armed Forces Court of First Instance, Colonel Hassan Ali Nur Shuute, stated that the judicial panel found the accused guilty of first-degree murder based on absolute evidence and witness testimonies. The convict was sentenced to death under the Islamic law of Qisas (retribution).