Sunday, June 29, 2025 — HAN
Maryan Ahmed Ali, the Minister of Women of Somalia’s Puntland regional administration, has expressed deep concern about the implementation of the Puntland Rape Act, stating that traditional elders are obstructing the enforcement of the law, as they are sometimes more influential than the formal government system.
Minister Maryan, who appeared before the Puntland Parliament yesterday, pointed out that the traditional elders directly block the punishment of perpetrators of rape, preferring that cases be resolved through customary means.
She accused the elders of financially benefiting from the settlements arranged between the families of the victims and the accused ones.
“This has led to an increase in rape cases in Puntland, as the perpetrators escape the punishment they deserve,” said Maryan.
She added that some of the accused manage to escape from prison while awaiting trial.
“When we take cases to court, we encounter elders who want to settle the matter, parents of the girl saying they have reached an understanding, the law not being enforced, and the raped girl feeling pressured and hesitant to seek formal justice,” said the Minister.
Finally, Maryan appealed to Parliament, asking them to help ensure the implementation of the Puntland Rape Act, which stipulates that anyone convicted of rape should be sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Meanwhile, the Puntland Parliamentary Human Rights Committee recently reported that nearly 60 rape cases have occurred in Puntland so far this year, some of which involved both rape and murder.
The committee also revealed that 17 of these cases were resolved through customary means that contradict both Puntland laws and Islamic Sharia.
Besides the rape cases in Puntland, there are many victims across Somalia who do not report rape because they do not trust the criminal justice system. They also face challenges such as limited access to health and justice services, and a lack of knowledge about these services. They also fear reprisals and stigma from their communities.
