Forced Marriage in Somalia remains a widespread human rights crisis driven by entrenched traditions, poverty, insecurity and extremist influence. Despite Islamic teachings that require consent, thousands of Somali girls enter marriages they did not choose often before adulthood undermining their health, education and future. New research reveals how cultural norms, clan systems and Al-Shabaab’s harsh interpretations of religion sustain this practice.
A Deeply rooted practice with modern consequences
Forced marriage did not begin with armed groups. Somali communities have practiced it for generations to build alliances, access grazing land and seal peace agreements between clans. Families also arrange marriages to preserve honor, control sexuality and protect girls from pregnancy outside wedlock.
In many rural and nomadic settings, parents still view early marriage as a social obligation. Girls who delay marriage risk stigma, ridicule or abandonment. Community elders often consider girls ready for marriage as young as 15, despite the absence of clear legal safeguards.
However, today’s forced marriage crisis carries heavier consequences. Years of civil war, drought and poverty have intensified the practice, turning girls into survival assets in fragile households.
How Al-Shabaab exploits forced marriage
In areas under Al-Shabaab control, forced marriage takes a more coercive and violent form. Fighters demand wives, often targeting young girls. Families who resist face threats, punishment or accusations of being “infidels.”
The militant group promises recruits free wives, using marriage as a tool for loyalty and control. Widows of slain fighters undergo “dumaal”, a form of wife inheritance that forces them to marry another fighter of equal rank.
Although Islam forbids forced marriage, Al-Shabaab imposes rigid interpretations of Sharia law. Consent from the girl or her family becomes irrelevant. Once a fighter claims a bride, refusal rarely stops the union.
Girls face intense pressure from families, elders and clans. Fathers often finalize marriages without consulting mothers or daughters to prevent resistance. Victims of rape frequently must marry their attackers to “restore family honor.”
In extreme cases, girls experience abduction (dhabar-garaac), where kidnappers beat, starve and imprison them until they agree to marriage. Communities punish girls who refuse through banishment, loss of child custody or denial of inheritance.
Poverty remains one of the strongest drivers of forced marriage in Somalia. Families struggling with drought, hunger and unemployment view marriage as economic relief. Bride price payments help feed remaining children.
Some girls also see marriage to wealthy older men as a survival strategy, believing it will secure education, healthcare and protection for themselves and their families.
Health, education and national development at risk
Forced marriage exposes girls to severe physical, psychological and sexual violence. Child brides face higher risks of pregnancy complications and maternal death. Girls under 15 are five times more likely to die during childbirth.
Education suffers most. Many girls drop out of school once married, limiting employment opportunities and reinforcing cycles of dependency. With women making up over half of Somalia’s population, excluding them from education and economic participation undermines national recovery.
According to international frameworks such as CEDAW and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, forced marriage violates fundamental human rights and stalls sustainable development.
A broken justice system
Somalia’s triple justice system Sharia law, traditional law and secular law creates loopholes that allow forced marriage to continue unchecked. While Islamic law criminalizes forced marriage, customary law often permits it.
Traditional councils dominated by male elders handle many cases involving women. Girls must rely on male representatives, discouraging reporting and accountability. Meanwhile, key bills protecting girls remain stalled in parliament.
Forced Marriage in Somalia thrives at the intersection of tradition, poverty and extremism. While Islam clearly condemns the practice, cultural distortions and militant control persist. Ending forced marriage requires legal reform, education, economic stability and community-driven change.
Somalia’s recovery depends on empowering girls not trading them away.