By Zakaria Hassan - Reporter
MOGADISHU, Aug. 16, 2026 — Somalia has launched a new Juvenile Justice Law that establishes a specialised justice system for children accused of crimes, setting out procedures for their arrest, detention, prosecution, rehabilitation and sentencing.
The law, formally launched in Mogadishu by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, creates a legal framework for handling juvenile criminal cases separately from those involving adults.
The launch ceremony brought together government ministers, legal experts and representatives of Somalia’s judiciary.
The legislation follows a review and amendment of earlier Somali juvenile justice legislation, including Law No. 13 of March 3, 1970, which established the country’s Juvenile Court and Rehabilitation system.
Article 8 of the new law provides for the establishment of juvenile courts, with specialised divisions at both first-instance and appellate court levels to handle cases involving children.
The specialised divisions are intended to create a separate judicial pathway for juveniles involved in criminal proceedings and ensure that their cases are handled under procedures appropriate to their age and circumstances.
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The law also provides for the establishment of juvenile rehabilitation and correctional centres, with the Ministry of Justice responsible for their development and operation.
The centres are intended to provide rehabilitation, care and support appropriate to the age and circumstances of juvenile offenders.
Article 15 states that police may arrest individuals who have reached the age of 14 and requires officers who arrest a juvenile to promptly notify the child’s parents or legal guardian.
The legislation also requires greater consideration of the psychological and physical condition of juveniles and provides for additional services aimed at safeguarding their rights throughout the justice process.
Somalia’s Federal Parliament approved the Juvenile Justice Bill on March 10, 2025, with 139 lawmakers voting in favour and two voting against. No lawmakers abstained.
The launch marks a significant step towards establishing a specialised juvenile justice system in Somalia, combining legal accountability with the protection of children’s rights and rehabilitation, rather than treating juveniles under the same procedures applied to adults.