Somalia: SNA Probes Video of Soldiers Suffocating Bound Al-Shabaab Suspect

What the report says

Somalia’s military says it has opened a preliminary investigation into a video that appeared to show members of the Somali National Army mistreating a detained man during an operation against Al-Shabaab. The account, published by Radio Dalsan and distributed by AllAfrica, says the SNAF Command issued a statement on Tuesday after the footage spread online and drew public condemnation.

According to the report, the video shows uniformed men believed to be Somali soldiers surrounding a young man in custody and placing a plastic bag over his head. The military said the conduct appears to violate its Code of Conduct and the laws of armed conflict. It also warned personnel against such behavior and said anyone found responsible could face legal and military disciplinary action.

The statement did not identify any soldiers in the footage, say where or when the incident occurred, or explain the detainee’s identity or condition. It also was not clear from the article whether any arrests or suspensions had been made. The case comes as Somali government forces and allied fighters continue operations against Al-Shabaab in several regions, a broader campaign that makes detention and prisoner-treatment standards especially sensitive.

More broadly, alleged abuse of detainees in counterinsurgency operations can affect public trust and raise concerns among international partners that support Somalia’s security forces, though that wider context is general background rather than a claim from the report.