Thursday October 2, 2025
Photo: Puntland State University students celebrate after winning Somalia’s 2025 IHL national competition in Mogadishu. They will represent the country at the All-Africa Finals in Nairobi. © ICRC / Abdikarim Mohamed
Mogadishu (HOL) — Puntland State University (PSU) has been crowned Somalia’s 2025 International Humanitarian Law (IHL) champion after defeating Mogadishu University in a tense national final held in the capital, earning the right to represent the country at the All-Africa IHL Finals in Nairobi this November.
The Garowe-based institution’s victory marks its first national title, ending Mogadishu University’s two-year dominance in the annual moot court competition, which tests law students’ understanding of IHL, the international legal framework governing conduct during armed conflict.
Organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the event brought together six Somali universities in a series of simulated courtroom trials. Teams of three students each argued fictional cases involving war crimes, civilian protection, and humanitarian access before a three-judge panel composed of Jelena Nikolic, ICRC Legal Advisor in Somalia; Daniel Zouggari, ICRC delegate and IHL trainer; and Mohamed Farah, Senior Legal Advisor at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Judges assessed participants on legal reasoning, presentation, and the application of IHL principles. Following a tightly contested final, PSU was declared the winner after delivering what judges described as an “exceptionally well-reasoned argument” supported by international precedent.
Mogadishu University’s Abdihafid Mohamed Ali received the Best Speaker Award, recognized for his eloquent and well-structured submissions. Though his team narrowly missed the title, its consistent performance through earlier rounds was widely praised.
According to ICRC organizers, PSU will receive full logistical support, including travel and accommodation, to compete against top law schools from eight African countries at the continental finals in Nairobi later this year.