A 10-year-old boy was allegedly beaten to death by his father in Hargeisa’s Mohamed Mooge district, sparking shock and outrage among residents as Somaliland authorities investigate the incident.
HARGEISA, Somalia (Somali Report) — A 10-year-old boy was allegedly beaten to death by his father in Hargeisa’s Mohamed Mooge district, in a shocking incident that has drawn widespread attention from residents and on Somali social media.
The incident reportedly took place on Tuesday night, with residents describing the killing as a deeply disturbing event that left the neighborhood in shock.
Residents who spoke to Somali Report said the boy, identified as Ali, had returned home late after attending a mosque. According to their accounts, his father became angry when the child arrived and allegedly attacked him.
Farhia, a woman from the neighborhood who said she witnessed the incident, described the attack in detail. She said the father grabbed the boy, restrained him between his legs, and struck him repeatedly with a stone.
“He grabbed the boy and put him between his legs. He pressed his knees against the child’s chest and had a stone in his hand, with which he struck him three times in the face,” Farah said, according to the woman.
She said she then saw the man drag the child onto the road and place a large stone on him.
“Immediately, the boy’s head was crushed against the ground,” she said.
Another elderly resident described the incident as a tragedy and said residents rushed to the scene after hearing what had happened.
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“A very sad incident happened here. A father brutally killed his 10-year-old son. We were told that the parent had been suffering from an illness,” the resident said.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged killing, including the father’s mental or physical condition, could not be independently established from the accounts available.
Security forces from Somaliland authorities arrived at the scene after the incident and took control of the case, according to local reports. An investigation has been launched to establish what led to the killing and determine the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
The incident has triggered strong reactions among residents and on Somali-language media platforms, where people have expressed shock and concern over the circumstances of the boy’s death.
Cases involving violence against children have repeatedly raised concerns among Somali communities, with residents and rights advocates often calling for stronger protection of children and greater attention to family and mental health-related problems.
Authorities have not yet publicly released detailed findings from the investigation or announced whether formal charges have been filed against the father.
The case remains under investigation, while residents are awaiting further information from Somaliland’s police and other authorities handling the incident.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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