A former high-ranking officer in the Somali National Army has been deported from the United States following accusations of torture, terrorism, and other human rights violations. Yusuf Abdi Ali, 71, also known as "Tukeh," was removed from the country on December 20, 2024, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. Ali held the position of lieutenant colonel and commander of the Fifth Brigade in northwest Somalia during the Siad Barre regime (1987-1989).

(Immigration and Customs Enforcement)

During his time in command, Ali allegedly oversaw operations against the Isaaq clan, involving extrajudicial killings, torture, and arbitrary detention. ICE's statement on December 23rd highlighted the numerous human rights violations perpetrated by the Somali National Army during that period, including executions of political opponents, destruction of villages, and the use of landmines against civilians.

A Department of Justice immigration judge issued a comprehensive 65-page ruling in February 2024, concluding that Ali was directly involved in acts of torture. The judge's decision detailed how Ali instructed soldiers under his command to detain, torture, and participate in extrajudicial killings, ultimately leading to his deportation order.

Soldiers patrol outside the Hayat Hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia, Aug, 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

The Center for Justice & Accountability, a U.S. law firm representing one of Ali's alleged victims, Farhan Warfaa, describes Ali as "one of the most ruthless commanders" of the Barre regime. Warfaa, abducted as a teenager by soldiers under Ali's command, endured months of captivity, repeated beatings, and a shooting that he miraculously survived. In 2019, a federal civil court in Alexandria, Virginia, held Ali accountable for Warfaa's torture.

Ali, a permanent resident of Springfield, Virginia, was apprehended by Homeland Security Investigations in November 2022. Russell Hott, acting executive associate director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Washington, D.C., emphasized that the United States will not provide refuge to human rights violators and will continue to pursue justice for victims. He added that while justice was delayed in this instance, it ultimately prevailed.