Somalia Expands Prison Rehabilitation with New Vocational Training Programme for Inmates

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia has expanded efforts to rehabilitate prison inmates through vocational training, with officials launching a new skills programme at the Mogadishu Prison and Court Complex as part of broader reforms aimed at improving the country’s criminal justice system.

State Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Ambassador Ilyas Sheikh Omar, on Sunday presided over the graduation of one group of inmates who completed technical and vocational training while officially opening a new course for a second group at the same facility.

The event, organised by the Somalia Custodian Police, was attended by the Commander of the Custodian Police, Major General Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud, government officials, representatives of United Nations agencies, members of the justice sector and civil society organisations.

Speaking during the ceremony, officials said vocational education was intended to equip inmates with practical skills that could improve their chances of finding employment after release, reducing the risk of reoffending and supporting their reintegration into society.

The training is delivered through a classroom and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centre built inside the prison complex under a project implemented by KAALO Aid and Development Organisation to strengthen human rights and rehabilitation within Somalia’s criminal justice system.

Located at KM7 in Mogadishu, the prison and court complex combines detention facilities, courtrooms and training centres within a single site. The integrated design is intended to improve judicial efficiency by allowing court proceedings to take place without transporting detainees across the city, reducing security risks and delays.

Somalia has been working in recent years to reform its justice and corrections sectors with support from international partners, shifting greater emphasis towards rehabilitation alongside incarceration. Vocational training has become an increasingly important part of that approach, with authorities seeking to provide inmates with marketable skills that can help them rebuild their lives after serving their sentences.

Justice experts say rehabilitation programmes can play a significant role in reducing repeat offending, particularly among young people who often face limited employment opportunities after leaving prison. In Somalia, where unemployment remains high and armed groups have historically targeted vulnerable youth for recruitment, officials argue that skills development inside correctional facilities can contribute to both social reintegration and long-term security.

The latest programme forms part of wider efforts to improve detention conditions and strengthen respect for human rights in Somalia’s justice system, with authorities and international partners increasingly promoting education, vocational training and rehabilitation as key components of prison reform.