Police in Somalia’s Northeastern State arrested five Sunday in connection with a rape case in Las Anod and are searching for a sixth suspect. According to Sool regional police, the assault occurred on May 23, 2026. The five suspects were apprehended during a follow-up operation following the initial report. Authorities identified the victim as a woman from Northeastern Somalia but did not disclose her name, following standard procedures for sexual assault cases. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities promising to release a complete report once concluded. The detained suspects will be handed over to judicial authorities for prosecution, officials stated. Authorities cautioned the public against circulating unverified information on social media, noting that unofficial reports could disrupt the investigation, judicial proceedings, and security operations. This incident has renewed concerns about sexual violence in Las Anod. A year prior, two sisters were gang-raped in the city, an case that activists and residents claim remains unresolved. Sexual violence continues to be underreported across much of Somalia due to stigma, fears of retaliation, and limited access to justice. Rights advocates have consistently urged for more thorough investigations, better protection for survivors, and greater accountability in gender-based violence cases.