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The Somali Federal Government has declined to extradite Jama Mohamud Abdi, the former director of Qardho Hospital, to the Puntland regional authorities, despite mounting pressure over the serious allegations he faces. Jama is accused of raping young Somali women and distributing indecent images of them online, crimes that have sparked public outrage and deepened tensions between the federal and regional governments.
According to reliable sources, the Somali Police Force Commander has insisted that Jama’s trial take place in Mogadishu rather than in Puntland, where he was previously acquitted of similar charges. Reports indicate that while Jama had been cleared of wrongdoing by a Puntland court, other suspects connected to the same case remain in custody in Qardho. This difference in judicial handling appears to have fueled mistrust between the two governments.
Initially, the Federal Government of Somalia had agreed to transfer Jama to Puntland so that he could be retried in the region where the alleged crimes occurred. However, that plan abruptly changed after a Puntland security officer involved in the case was detained in Garowe. The officer was accused of cooperating with federal authorities without the regional government’s approval — a move that angered Puntland officials and further strained relations.
In reaction to the officer’s arrest, the Federal Government reportedly decided to retain custody of Jama and proceed with the case in Mogadishu. The Attorney General’s Office later issued an official statement confirming that the federal authorities had assumed full control of the investigation and prosecution. This effectively ruled out any possibility of extradition to Puntland.
The decision has stirred widespread debate across the country, as many view it as a reflection of the ongoing power struggle between Somalia’s Federal Government and its regional states. Puntland, in particular, has long accused Mogadishu of overstepping its authority in regional matters, while the Federal Government maintains that it has the legal right to handle cases of national significance — especially those involving serious crimes such as sexual assault.
Jama Mohamud Abdi was arrested last week in a joint operation between Somali law enforcement and the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). He was then flown to Mogadishu to face the rape and indecency charges. The arrest marked a major breakthrough in a case that has drawn public attention for months, with many Somali citizens calling for justice for the victims.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Office of the Attorney General confirmed that an investigation had found credible evidence linking Jama to acts of sexual assault, as well as the recording and online distribution of explicit material involving Somali girls in Qardho. Authorities said the images were shared across various social media platforms, causing significant harm to the victims and their families.
While many Somalis welcomed the federal government’s move to prosecute the suspect, others criticized the decision to keep the case in Mogadishu, arguing that it undermines Puntland’s judicial independence. The disagreement has once again highlighted the fragile nature of Somalia’s federal system and the ongoing mistrust between regional and national institutions.
As the case progresses, citizens are calling for transparency, justice, and protection for victims of sexual violence. The outcome of Jama’s trial could set an important precedent for how future cases involving federal-regional jurisdictional disputes are handled in Somalia.