MOGADISHU – A Somali military court has sentenced a man convicted of belonging to the al-Shabab militant group to ten years in prison for plotting an attack against internationally renowned Somali boxer Ramla Ali.
The court found Abdisalaam Mohamed Hassan, also known as “Aamusane,” guilty of espionage and gathering intelligence to target Ali during her recent visit to Mogadishu. Presiding over the case on Tuesday, Colonel Hassan Ali Nur Shute ruled that Hassan had been a member of the group’s intelligence wing, the “Amniyat,” since 2014.
Prosecutors accused him of involvement in assassination and bombing units, spying on government facilities, and using his electrical skills to assess key locations in the capital to identify potential targets. Court officials noted that Hassan had previously escaped from a rehabilitation center before being re-arrested and tried.
In a related ruling, Fadumo Osman Subeyr Ali was convicted of providing shelter to Hassan and sentenced to one year of security surveillance.
Ali: A Symbol of Somalia’s Progress
In an interview with BBC Somali, the 35-year-old boxer described the plot not as a personal vendetta against her, but as a reflection of a larger ideological conflict over Somalia’s future.
“I left Mogadishu when I was young, and I returned when I was successful and a hero,” Ali said. “That journey—beautiful and painful—is the victory of Somalia.”
Ali expressed confidence in Somalia’s judicial and security institutions, framing the case as a clash between two visions for the nation. “There are two Somalias confronting each other: a developing Somalia and forces that fear that development. I represent the first,” she stated, dismissing fear as a tactic employed by extremists. She reaffirmed her commitment to returning to Mogadishu despite the alleged threats.
From Refugee to Olympic Trailblazer
Born in Mogadishu in 1989, Ali fled Somalia with her family during the civil war after her brother was killed in a mortar attack. After resettling in London, she took up boxing as a teenager.
She won England’s national novice title in 2015 and the elite national championships in 2016, later claiming the African Zone featherweight title in 2019. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she became the first boxer to represent Somalia at the Games. In 2022, she made history again as the first woman to compete in a sanctioned professional bout in Saudi Arabia, winning by first-round knockout.
During her recent visit to Mogadishu, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud honored her achievements with a certificate at the Presidential Palace. A feature film about her life is currently in production, and she has also authored a memoir.
Court officials did not indicate whether the convicted man plans to appeal the sentence
