24 July 2017: four detainees were said to be shot dead at a location near the Central Police Station in Beled-Hawa District in Gedo region. The detainees who are accused to be linked to the terrorist group Al-Shabaab were arrested by the security forces in Beled-Hawa and transferred to the police station for further investigation. Reports from that Gedo region revealed that government forces took the detainees out of the central Police station on Sunday night and shot them dead at an open square in the town. However, there is no statement released from the district officials regarding the execution of these four detainees by government forces. There was no court trials or verdicts made against the suspects. Residents told reporters that suspects were involved in the killing of government forces and were captured at the outskirts of the town during security operations that was carried out against the militant group Al-Shabaab. Extrajudicial killings were reported to occur frequently in the past period particularly in Juba and Gedo regions, as government forces managed to push away Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab group from many areas and arrested dozen fighters. On 26 July Jubbaland Minister for Security Mohamed Abdi Kaliil has strongly condemned the extrajudicial killing of the four detainees in Beled-Hawo town of Gedo region. The official said authorities have arrested those behind the execution, including Beled-Hawo district commissioner, his deputy on social affairs, soldiers and the region’s head of Intelligence for the murder.

“It’s unfortunate and shocking! We condemn it and will hold accountable the officials who are involved or ordered the execution of the alleged Al-Shabaab prisoners without court prosecution,” said Kaliil. The arrested officials were reported to have been transferred to a prison in the town of Doolow, which borders with Kenya on Tuesday night, and expected to stand trial, and face murder charges. (Source: Garowe Online)