Al-Shabaab carries out largest recent executions, targeting alleged spies

Al-Shabaab has reportedly carried out one of its largest recent mass executions, targeting individuals accused of spying for the Federal Government of Somalia and foreign governments.

The executions took place last Friday, February 20, when the militant group publicly executed 10 men, whom they said were convicted by their courts of espionage.

In Bu’aale district, Middle Juba region, five men were executed in a public square, with Al-Shabaab officials and armed militants overseeing the act. Local residents were reportedly summoned to witness the executions, a tactic the group often uses to instill fear in communities under its control.

On the same day, the group executed five additional men in Kunyo-Barrow, Lower Shabelle region. Residents of the small agricultural town were also reportedly called to observe the executions.

Al-Shabaab claimed all ten individuals were Somali nationals, accusing them of espionage activities, including guiding drone strikes conducted by foreign forces in areas under Al-Shabaab’s control.

Sources speaking to Kaab TV indicated that the group often targets individuals traveling in public vehicles, particularly those suspected of ties to government forces or with family members in security institutions.

The group’s so-called courts do not hold public trials, nor are independent lawyers allowed to defend the accused. Independent media access is also strictly prohibited in areas controlled by the group, which is designated as a terrorist organization linked to Al-Qaeda.

The recent executions in Bu’aale and Kunyo-Barrow represent the largest number of individuals executed simultaneously by Al-Shabaab in recent months. The timing of the executions coincided with the start of Ramadan, a holy month observed by Muslims worldwide.

These public executions underscore the ongoing security challenges in Somalia and the continuing threat posed by Al-Shabaab in the southern and central regions of the country.