The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Somaliland, Adam Haji Ali Ahmed, presented the annual performance report of the country’s judiciary for 2024 and the initial months of 2025.
Chief Justice Adam Haji Ali also announced the completion of the Supreme Court Library, designed to serve as a reading room for students and to house legal resources for judges and legal researchers.
The report acknowledged the high volume of individuals served by the courts each month for various purposes, including case adjudication, complaint resolution, and the provision of legal services.
The importance of mobile courts in delivering legal services from the district level to the Supreme Court level across their jurisdictions was emphasized.
Maintenance and development of court buildings and infrastructure were also addressed. Extensive maintenance was conducted in 2024 at the Sanaag, Togdheer, and Saaxil Regional Courts, while buildings were added to the Awdal Regional Court, and the Qol-u-jeed District Court building was completed.
The 2024 annual report included data on income collected by customs offices within the courts, with the Chief Justice noting the judiciary’s significant contribution to government revenue through customs taxes.
The report also discussed the role of the sheriff in facilitating the settlement of civil disputes through agreements, noting the regular resolution of cases.
Mediation was highlighted as a valuable method of dispute resolution, consistent with Islamic principles and Somaliland law, and actively promoted by the judiciary, particularly in cases with limited evidence or time constraints.
Chief Justice Adam Haji Ali addressed the challenges facing the judiciary, which he stated are generally similar to those encountered by other national institutions. Infrastructure limitations were identified as an ongoing concern, although improvements are being made.
Land disputes were cited as a primary challenge in litigation, attributed to increased urbanization and rising land values. The cities of Burco, Boorama, and Berbera were noted as having a high prevalence of land disputes.
The Chief Justice reported a significant decline in land dispute cases in Hargeisa, credited to the implementation of the Geographic Information System (GIS), which has reduced instances of fraudulent property transactions. He recommended that local governments in Burco and Boorama adopt similar GIS systems.
The report also addressed the challenge of litigants who pursue cases without merit and express dissatisfaction despite unfavorable rulings. The Chief Justice cautioned the media and the public against being misled by such individuals and urged them to seek balanced information to avoid undermining the rights of other parties.
In conclusion, the Chief Justice expressed gratitude to all judicial workers, stakeholders involved in the administration of justice, and constitutional institutions for their cooperation and contributions.
