Families of six Moroccan nationals who were sentenced to death by a military court in Somalia’s Puntland region are calling on the Moroccan government to take urgent steps for their repatriation.
The six men were convicted by a military tribunal in Bosaso on March 2, 2024, for alleged membership in Daesh. The court ordered their execution by firing squad and instructed their deportation within 18 months. However, more than a year later, the detainees remain incarcerated in Garowe, and no official timeline for their repatriation has been announced.
On May 19, their families filed a formal complaint with Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, arguing that the prolonged detention violates legal and humanitarian standards. According to the families, the young men were misled with job offers and had no ties to any extremist group.
The plea comes in the wake of apparent inconsistencies in Puntland’s judicial process. On May 14, the same military court released a group of six foreign nationals—reportedly including Moroccans—who had defected from Daesh and surrendered to Puntland authorities. Those individuals were transferred to the Justice Ministry for repatriation, but officials have not confirmed whether any of them were from the group sentenced in March.
In an audio message shared with Moroccan media, one of the detainees claimed they were falsely accused upon arrival in Somalia, insisting they had no connections to armed factions.
“Our sons came here seeking work,” a family member stated in the complaint. “Instead, they were sentenced without a fair trial and have been left in legal limbo.”
Human rights advocates have raised concerns over the use of military courts in such cases and the lack of transparent legal proceedings. Observers continue to warn of the risks of execution unless diplomatic intervention takes place.
Authorities in Puntland have intensified military and judicial efforts in recent years against Daesh-linked fighters in the Bari region. While the government has prosecuted numerous cases, international actors have urged caution regarding the treatment of foreign nationals and access to legal defense.
The families continue to appeal to Rabat and the Moroccan public for urgent intervention to prevent what they describe as a looming humanitarian tragedy.