Saabirin Saylaan: An orphan's murder shines a spotlight on child abuse in Somalia

The woman who was supposed to care for Saabirin Saylaan was found to have beaten and tortured her.

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The murder of orphan Saabirin Saylaan in November, and the horrific details that emerged about the circumstances surrounding her death, sparked protests near her home in Galkayo, along with renewed calls for greater child protection.

The case touched a deep nerve in a country where child abuse often goes unreported, especially when it occurs inside extended families.

For many, Saabirin's death symbolised a broader failure in child protection and the slow implementation of legal safeguards meant to prevent such tragedies.

The conviction of 34-year-old Hodan Mohamud Diiriye for murder marked one of the rare instances in Somalia where a court imposed the ultimate penalty for child abuse.