MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – The Federal government of Somalia has announced the closure of a notorious detention centre managed by the intelligence agency on Sunday.
According to the justice minister, Hussein Hassan Hajji, the decision was reached following massive complaints from the members of the public as well as recommendations from human rights organisations.
The facility will be converted to the training academy for Somali security agencies.
“We will convert it to a training facility to train our armed forces and rename it as an academy,” the minister said.
“It is part of the reforms by the government of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo,” he added.
The spokesman of the presidency, Abdinur Mohamed, also announced the closure saying Somali Government will convert Godka Jila’ow Prison into a training facility as part of more comprehensive reforms to National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).
“Officers will be taught about Human Rights. The Govt is committed to genuine reforms, ” he said.
Situated in the capital Mogadishu near the presidential palace, Godka Jila’ow was managed by the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). The centre is used to detained suspected terrorists and other criminals.
It has been home for hundreds of terror suspects, and suspects of capital crimes since 2011 when al-Shabaab was driven out of Mogadishu by Somali military backed by AMISOM troops.
In 2016, al-Shabaab attacked the facility with Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED).
The attack claimed many lives including the centre’s guards.
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