Somalia: Militants responsible for '180 deaths' appear in military court

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A military court sitting in Mogadishu on Thursday charged four suspected members of Al-Shabaab with murder and now wait for convictions upon full trial, Garowe Online reports.

The four are said to be a gang of nine who have been executing innocent civilians and military generals across Somalia.

Five other members, the prosecutor said, are being sought by the state to answer various murder charges orchestrated by the Al-Qaida associate group.

Among those who appeared in the military court on Thursday was a woman, who is also believed to be a member of the secret Al-Shabaab's Amniyat group.

Mohamed Haji Ahmed, perhaps the most wanted Al-Shabaab operative by Somali forces, was charged with the murder of two generals and a deputy attorney general.

The suspect, who is popularly known as IIka-Asse, is also accused of killing his farther among other victims in terror-related attacks.

General Abdullahi Bulle, the military prosecutor, said IIkacase was once bailed out by his father in another case. The father is a police officer.

Throughout his operations with the Al-Shabaab, the military court heard, IIka-Asse has been executing duties as chief Amniyat, a group responsible for assassinations.

Three other suspects who were arraigned in court were charged with being members of Al-Shabaab and committing terror-related offenses.

Somali military court has risen up as one of the most trusted law enforcement agency, having had dozens of convictions in recent months.

The court has been helping Somalia showcase her commitment in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants, who have caused havoc for a decade in the Horn of Africa nation.

Intelligence briefs link IIka-Asse to the deadly explosions that hit Mogadishu in December 2018 which led to the death of Awil Dahir, a journalist with Universal TV among others.

Also, IIka-Asse is believed to have single-handedly sponsored and executed deaths of over 180 people across Somalia.

The five other accomplices are being sought and will be brought to a military court to face charges. The court will deliver judgments at a later date.

While AMISOM and SNA forces have worked extremely hard to completely crush the group, it has, however, intensified attacks across East Africa.

Recently, the militants attacked SYL Hotel near the presidential palace, killing at least five people. In neighboring Kenya, the group killed 11 people this month.

United Nations Panel of Experts observed in November that the group has reverted to mafia-style taxation in Somalia having lost revenue through charcoal burning which was outlawed.

GAROWE ONLINE