Political violence and banditry have been endemic since the 1991 revolt against Siad Barre. Since that time, thousands aof people, mostly people not involved in the fighting, have died in inter-clan fighting. The vast majority of killings during the year resulted from clashes between militias or unlawful militia activities. Several occurred during land disputes, and a small number involved common criminal activity. These murders describe the unlawful deprivation of life, when Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states the everyone has the right to live.
Police and militia members killed several persons during the year. For example, on January 17, militiamen killed Mr. Abdullahi Omar Yabarow, a truck driver also known as Hareri Adle, and stole his truck on the road between Mogadishu and Afgoye. On February 26 and 27, 15 civilians were killed and over 50 others injured after fighting broke out between militiamen.
No action was taken against the responsible members of the security forces for abuses committed in 2002 and 2001, including during clashes with militia. Also, there was no action taken against the responsible members of militias in the reported 2001 cases of killing of members and supporters of the Transitional National Government.
Corruption within the various police forces was usually seen. The police forces throughout the country engaged in politics. The TNG has a 3,500-officer police force and a militia of approximately 5,000 persons. Abuses by police and militia members are rarely investigated.
The Transitional Charter provides for freedom of speech and the press. However, the charter was not implemented by year's end, and there were incidents of harassment, arrest, and detention of journalists in all areas of the country, including Puntland and Somaliland. The Puntland Charter provides for freedom of the press "as long as they respect the law", however, this right was not respected in practice. The Somaliland Constitution also provides for freedom of the press. This directly violates freedom of speech and press.
Non-Sunni Muslims often were viewed with suspicion by members of the Sunni majority. There was strong social pressure to respect Islamic traditions. Organized Islamic fundamentalist groups, whose goal was the establishment of an Islamic state, appeared to regroup during the year. They were more actively engaged in the private sector and in political activities throughout the country.
There was a small, low profile Christian community. Christians, as well as other non-Muslims who proclaimed their religion sometimes faced societal harassment. Article 18 states everyone has the right to freedom of thought and religion.
On March 17, 2011, Kenyan authorities forced the Kenya Red Cross to stop providing services at a temporary refugee camp in Mandera, in northeast Kenya, which was housing 13,000 people, many of them Somalis who had recently fled fighting across the border in Bula Hawo. District authorities, who had given the Red Cross permission to establish the camp, abruptly changed course, ordering the Red Cross to stop providing services and close the camp. That evening, according to several organizations working in Mandera, government officials accompanied by armed Kenyan security forces intimidated camp residents, telling them to leave the camp and return to Somalia by noon the next day. This violates the right stated in Article 14, everyone is entitled to asylum in another country from persecution.
Domestic violence against women occurred. There are no laws that specifically address domestic violence. Police and militia members raped women, and rape was commonly practiced in inter-clan conflicts. Laws prohibiting rape exist, but they generally were not enforced. There were no reports that rape cases were prosecuted during the year. There were numerous reports of rapes of Somali women and girls in refugee camps in Kenya during the year.
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27751.htm
Human Rights Watch
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