Somalia pushes to overturn death sentences for citizens convicted in Saudi Arabia
The Somali government’s push for legal intervention follows the execution of Somali national Mohamed Nur Hussein in February 2025.
The government of Somalia is seeking to overturn the death sentences of nearly 40 Somali citizens incarcerated in Saudi Arabia. This is in line with its broader initiative to ensure legal protection for Somali nationals living abroad.
On Friday, Somali Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Hassan Moalim announced that he had discussed the issue with the Saudi ambassador to Somalia.
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Their conversation focused on securing justice for Somali prisoners and strengthening judicial cooperation between the two countries.
"I discussed with the Saudi ambassador the cessation of executions of Somali youth, and he accepted our request. We also discussed establishing a relationship of cooperation in the field of justice and judicial cooperation," Hassan said.
As part of this diplomatic initiative, the minister proposed a prisoner transfer agreement that would allow Somali inmates serving sentences in Saudi Arabia to be relocated to Somalia to complete their terms.
Extradite Somali citizens
"We are making efforts to extradite Somali citizens who are serving sentences in Saudi Arabia so they can serve their terms in Somalia. We have submitted the agreement on the matter and are awaiting a response from the Saudi Ministry of Justice to finalize the agreement," he added.
The Somali government’s push for legal intervention follows the execution of Somali national Mohamed Nur Hussein in February 2025.
Mohamed was sentenced to death for drug smuggling and was executed by beheading under Saudi Arabia’s strict capital punishment laws.
His family has contested the fairness of his trial, arguing that he was denied due process, had inadequate legal representation and was not allowed to appeal the verdict.
Following Mohamed’s execution, the families of other Somali prisoners facing similar sentences staged protests in Mogadishu. They urged the Somali government to take immediate action to prevent further executions.
Saudi Arabia has one of the highest execution rates in the world, with capital punishment applied to crimes such as drug trafficking, murder and terrorism. The kingdom’s judicial system is based on Islamic law, which allows for harsh sentences, including beheadings.
Human rights organisations have frequently criticised the lack of transparency in Saudi trials, particularly for foreign nationals who may not receive adequate legal representation.
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