Rapists in self-declared republic of Somaliland can no longer marry their victims after the country’s parliament passed a law against rape.
Rapists would now be jailed at least 30 years in prison when caught and put on trial.
The speaker of Somaliland Parliament, Bashe Mohamed Farah has spoken about the increasing number of rape cases in an interview with the BBC saying he hoped the new law would help stop the act.
Prior to the passage of this landmark anti-rape law, rape was considered cultural and treated as such but it would now be a crime.
Women and children rights activists are hailing the move after years of lobbying. Somaliland last year held elections peacefully to elect a president.
The Republic of Somaliland declared independence in 1991 and has been internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia. There is no law against rape in Somalia.
The Islamic state has a population of about 3.5 million.
Source: Africafeeds.com
