Somalia’s armed forces court sentenced a young man to death for the murder of a minibus last week at an illegal checkpoint between Bal´ad and Mogadishu.
The man identified as Abdirahman Addow killed Sailah Abdulle who was a mini bus driver on the 29th of November last month at an illegal checkpoint in Balcad district in the Middle Shabelle region according to the court.
He was said to have killed him over a dispute over extortion he was ordered to pay, which he later lost his life for.
After a few hours, the security forces managed to arrest the fugitive murderer, who was then handed over to the government’s judicial authorities.
The illegal checkpoint was set up by rogue soldiers who reportedly demanded a payment of about 100,000 Somali shillings. The minibus driver told the soldier that he could only pay 90,000 Somali Shillings before an argument ensued, and the driver was shot dead.
Since the fall of the central government in 1991, Somalia has long struggled with illegal checkpoints established by soldiers, quasi-legitimate security services and rogue gunmen.
In the past, soldiers have pointed to their lack of wages as justification for shaking down civilians.
On Saturday, Hiiraan Governor Ali Jeyte Osman issued a stern warning against illegal checkpoints in the region following reports of increased checkpoints on roads connecting the region’s main towns.
