Ethiopian Court Sentences Al-Shabab Leaders and Members to Life Imprisonment
ADDIS ABABA — On February 19, 2024, a court in Ethiopia delivered sentences of up to life imprisonment for 41 individuals, including high-ranking members of the Somalia-based terrorist group Al-Shabab, the Ethiopian News Agency reported. Among those sentenced were the militant group’s leader, Hussein Almed, also known as Hussein Gapa, and commanders Ibrahim Jibril, Hosh Adem, Ibrahim Rahwa, and Ali Beshir.
According Ethiopian News Agency, the charges were filed on December 6, 2022, against the accused for their involvement in terrorism. The prosecution brought forward 57 witnesses and submitted a 396-page document as evidence. The defendants were implicated in orchestrating several attacks across the Somali region of Ethiopia until the end of 2014 in the Ethiopian Calendar (EC), joining Al-Shabab since 2012 EC, and participating in terrorist training and missions.
The attacks attributed to the defendants resulted in the deaths of 265 citizens and inflicted injuries, both serious and minor, on 323 individuals, including members of the Somali Region’s special forces and local militias. Additionally, the court highlighted that the terrorist activities led to the destruction of property valued at 13,550,000 Birr, including six schools, public infrastructure, private properties, and vehicles. The group also stole two trucks, 470 goats and sheep, and 119 camels from local communities.
The charges were based on violations of article 23/1 A and B of the criminal code enacted in 1996 EC and article 35 of proclamation number 1176/2012 article 30 sub-article 1, aimed at preventing and controlling terrorism. The accused were aware of Al-Shabab’s designation as a global terrorist organization when they joined.
After acknowledging their inability to hire legal representation, the Federal Supreme Court assigned defense attorneys to the accused. The defendants confessed their faith in court on February 13, 2023, after the charges were read. Despite the court’s allowance for defense, the accused failed to present evidence in their defense across five appointments, leading to their conviction.
Hussein Almed and Ibrahim Jibril Ibrahim received life sentences. Nineteen individuals associated with Hosh Adem Ibrahim were sentenced to between 11 and 12 years, while eight linked to Rehawa Ibrahim, suspected of weapons supply to Al-Shabab, received sentences of 8 and 9 years. Ten defendants related to Ali Bashir’s case were sentenced to between 7 years and 8 months and 8 years and 6 months. Two others, identified in Hosh Adam Ibrahim’s case as mere group members, were sentenced to two years each.