A 14-year-old orphan, Saabirin Saylaan, was murdered by Hodan Mohamud Diiriye, the woman caring for her, after enduring months of severe abuse, prompting national outrage and protests in Galkayo. The case highlighted deep gaps in Somalia’s child protection system, where abuse within families often goes unreported and traditional clan mediation can override legal accountability. Diiriye was convicted of murder and is awaiting execution, while her husband received a lesser sentence for negligence. The tragedy has sparked debates about implementing child protection laws, including the recently ratified African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and underscores the urgent need for stronger enforcement, public awareness, and state-led protection mechanisms to prevent violence against children.