UN puts Somalia's spy agency on notice over torture and violence

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The National Intelligence and Security Agency [NISA] has yet again been subjected to scrutiny over alleged mass violations of human rights and torture in Somalia, barely a week after Amnesty International questioned President Hassan Sheikh's commitment to protecting civilians from brutality.

A fortnight ago, Amnesty International issued a ten-point statement in which it suggested better ways Somalia can minimize gross violation of human rights, based on reports issued in recent weeks even after Hassan Sheikh pledged to rectify the past.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights [OHCHR] which handles the matters, raised concern about reports of torture and other abuses, including gender-based violence perpetrated by NISA and the Somalia National Army [SNA].

According to the UN body, security forces in the country particularly in the army and NISA are responsible for serious torture and gender-based violence against the convention of torture. The two entities have massive powers to interrogate and execute perceived criminals.

“It was disturbed by reports about torture and other ill-treatment, including gender-based violence, committed by the National Intelligence and Security Agency, the Somali National Army, and other actors,” OHCHR said in the statement.

“The Committee was further concerned by overcrowding and poor conditions in Somalia prisons and reports of life-threatening conditions in detention facilities under the control of Al-Shabaab," added what could potentially cause a backlash.

OHCH called on Somali authorities to establish a definition of torture that complied with the Convention and to establish a national human rights institution to investigate all alleged acts of torture. Somalia does not have a formidable judicial system.

More often than not, people alleged to be members of Al-Shabaab are subjected to rigorous interrogation by either NISA and at times presented before the powerful military courts for prosecution. In the past three months, over 10 people have been publicly executed having been convicted of killing innocent civilians across the country.

Human rights violations are common in Somalia, with the government, security forces, and Al-Shabaab often linked to the practice. In fact, NISA is one of the most notorious government agencies behind arbitrary arrests and detentions which have seen many people get jailed without trial.

GAROWE ONLINE