Norwegian citizen sentenced to death: –

Amnesty International’s political advisor Gerald Folkvord does not hide the fact that events in Somaliland are terrifying.

– In most countries in Africa, we now see that there are fewer executions. Unfortunately, that is not the reality in Somaliland, Folkvord says.

He admits that Somaliland is one of the countries where Amnesty International is having difficulty knowing what is happening.

Isolated earth

– Somaliland is a separatist republic, and although the country has its own government, it is from Somalia and the capital, Mogadishu, about which we have more information. We have received confirmation that several people were executed in Somaliland in January this year, as well as information about new executions in November, says Gerald Folkvord.

– Does Amnesty International know how many people have been executed in Somaliland this year?

– No, we don’t know the number. Our office in Nairobi is trying to collect information. The problem is that Somaliland is not recognized as its own independent country, and therefore does not have regular diplomatic contact with other nations. Little information is available, Folkvord says.

Amnesty International has information indicating that several of those executed have been convicted of terrorism.

– Does the judicial system in Somaliland work?

– The judicial system appears to be very opaque. As we see it, it depends mainly on the judge. The referee remains free and can do whatever he wants.

– The legal system itself is established with a lawyer and the prosecution, but it is difficult to say if it works as expected. In principle, those convicted should have the opportunity to appeal the verdict to a higher court, Folkvord says.

Worried

Another problem of legal certainty that Folkvord points out is the confusion between the ordinary legal system and Sahrian Islamic law.

– We are concerned about development in Somaliland. Along with South Sudan and Somalia, Somaliland is the only country south of the Sahara where we see the use of the death penalty increasing in Africa, Folkvord says.

Lawyers John Christian Elden and Farid Bouras are the Norwegian welfare lawyers convicted of the murder of the Norwegian citizen Saad Jidre (54). In recent weeks, lawyers have tried to involve the Norwegian authorities.

Visit norway

This weekend, two representatives from the Norwegian Embassy in Kenya were on a so-called secret visit to Somaliland. The diplomats were allowed to visit Saad Jidre, who is on death row in the pirate prison partly funded by Norway in the capital Hargeisa.

The Foreign Ministry has previously confirmed that two representatives from the embassy in Nairobi have been able to visit Saad Jidre in prison.

Envoys from the Foreign Ministry also met with the President of Somalia, Muse Bihi Abdui, and the judge of the country’s Supreme Court.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide contacted President Abdui by phone after the death sentence was passed. He clarified that the death penalty should not be served and that those sentenced to death should have access to ordinary judicial procedures.