A last-minute agreement to pay 100 camels as compensation has spared a murderer's life in Somaliland.
The unnamed man was among five convicts set to be executed in the Madheera area, north-east of Hargesia, the capital of the self-declared republic on Tuesday.
Minutes before the firing squad was given their orders, elders from the families of both the murderer and the victim arrived at the execution site and untied him from a pole.
The other four, who had been found guilty over separate murder charges, were shot dead.
Last-minute interventions at execution sites are not uncommon in Somaliland.
In the traditional justice system, the compensation for a man's murder is 100 camels, but money is often used instead because of a decline in the number of the prized animals in recent years.
This parallel system operates alongside a formal court process which complements or sometimes replaces it entirely.
It has however been criticised because it means people from rich families can buy their freedom while the poor can't.
Latest Stories
-
Former Deputy AG accuses Godfred Dame of unethical legal behaviour
4 mins -
John Kumah goes home on May 18
8 mins -
Tema General Hospital: If a baby died, it wasn’t because of ‘dumsor’ – GHS Accra Director
36 mins -
Afenyo-Markin fetes cast and crew of ‘the gods are not to blame’
40 mins -
‘Dumsor’ to hit parts of Accra and Tema today
53 mins -
Energy transition threatens survival of GNPC – PIAC warns
1 hour -
ECG fails to comply with PURC directive to publish ‘Dumsor’ timetable
1 hour -
Tullow, partners affirm commitment to support coastal communities
2 hours -
Creative Addictions: Documentary on drug use among celebrities premieres on Joy News, Joy FM, Joy Prime
2 hours -
‘There is something mysteriously amiss somewhere’ – Gabby Otchere-Darko on ‘dumsor’
2 hours -
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs: What we know about the accusations against him
3 hours -
Education giant Excel-Plus Education set to host 2024 Study Abroad Fair at Accra City Hotel
3 hours -
Newmont unites communities through sports as it hosts intercommunity football gala in Akyem
3 hours -
Zoomlion Ghana Limited donates to support 8-year-old leukaemia patient
3 hours -
Telecel Ghana and Huawei sign new framework contract to provide better network experience
3 hours