An eight-year-old girl from Puntland has become the center of a national controversy after being discovered living with an adult man, Sheikh Mahmoud, who claimed to have married her with her father's consent. The girl had been missing for six months, reported by her family in September, after allegedly being taken by a female relative under the pretense of a trip.
The alarming details unfolded when security forces intervened, forcibly entering Sheikh Mahmoud's residence after he locked himself and the girl in a room. This incident has triggered protests across Somalia, with many demanding an end to child marriage and advocating for stronger child protection laws, given that there is currently no minimum legal marriage age in the country.
Fadumo Ahmed, chairperson of the Somali Women Vision Organisation, expressed deep concern over the situation, highlighting the disturbing nature of the allegations regarding the girl's abduction and her family's lack of knowledge about her whereabouts for months. Following the intervention by Puntland's police, the girl has been reunited with her family, while Sheikh Mahmoud has defended his actions by citing historical practices within Islamic traditions.
The case has reignited discussions about the prevalence of child marriage in Somalia, where a significant percentage of women are married before the age of 18, driven by poverty and cultural customs. In response, the Somali government had previously put forward a draft child rights bill to address these issues, but it faced objections and was sent back for re-evaluation.
As unfolding events prompt communal unrest and calls for reform, advocates urge responsible institutions to ensure justice and safeguard the rights of children in Somalia. The recent incident serves as a reminder of the pressing need for a legal framework to prevent child marriage and protect vulnerable youth in the region.
