MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somalia’s cabinet has approved a significant judicial cooperation agreement with Turkey, focusing on legal assistance, extradition of accused and convicted criminals, and the transfer of convicts, according to state media reports on Thursday.
This agreement comes in the wake of an incident involving the son of Somalia’s President Mohamed Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was involved in a fatal road accident in Istanbul last November.
The accident resulted in the death of a Turkish citizen, and although Mohamed left Turkey shortly after the incident, he returned about a month later. A Turkish court convicted him earlier this year, but his sentence of 2 1/2 years in prison was commuted to a fine.
While it remains unclear if this specific incident influenced the decision to reach this agreement, the cooperation between the two nations is expected to strengthen their relationship and enhance the legal and judicial systems in both countries.
The agreement includes provisions for legal assistance, which will facilitate cooperation in legal matters and the exchange of information between the two countries’ judicial systems.
The extradition of accused and convicted criminals is another key aspect of the agreement, enabling the transfer of individuals who are wanted for criminal offenses in either country.
This will help ensure that justice is served and that criminals do not evade punishment by fleeing across borders.
Lastly, the agreement also covers the transfer of convicts, allowing for the repatriation of prisoners to serve their sentences in their home countries.
This can be beneficial for both the prisoners and the countries involved, as it can help reduce the strain on prison systems and facilitate rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
The signing of this agreement is a significant step forward in the relationship between Somalia and Turkey, and it is expected to have a positive impact on the legal and judicial systems of both nations.
