Mohamed F Yabarag

With the arrival of yet another contingent of African peace-keeping forces in southern Somalia, this time from Sierra Leone, the country is increasingly becoming a dumping ground for African mercenaries whilst the government in Mogadishu seems to be careless or knows little about the ramifications such a force will have on Somalia in the long run. As part of AU agreement, Sierra Leone peace-keeping forces should have arrived in Mogadishu about two years ago when the reign of terror of Al Shabaab terrorist group was menacingly at its highest and dangerous level in Mogadishu and its immediate environs. Sierra Leone and Nigeria, who initially pledged to contribute to the peace-keeping efforts in Somalia, had simply reneged on their promises at that critical time.

The question that comes into mind is this: why now when the threat of Al Shabaab has dramatically dissipated in the Somali capital and, to a certain degree, elsewhere in the country? I have nothing against the African Peace-keeping forces that lost limp and life and gallantly got rid of the dreadful Al Shabab from large swathes of Somalia, but the timing of Sierra Leone peace-keeping forces in southern Somalia is highly questionable. The current government of Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud and those who may be pushing for more African peace-keeping forces should find an answer for the aforementioned question. I am sure the Somali government would love to see its army developed and equipped so that they will not depend on others, but it seems it has little or no say in the arrival of the Sierra Leone contingent, which is backed by AU with the US and EU funding.

In my opinion and I am sure in the opinion of many likeminded Somalis, our country does not need another African peace-keeping force at this critical juncture; it needs, inter alia, an all-inclusive, well-equipped and well-trained national army that can defend the country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, together with a well-disciplined police force that can make the nation’s capital and elsewhere safer for Somali citizens and others to do their daily chores. Pouring more foreign forces into the country will certainly undermine the morale of the poorly-paid Somali National Army (SNA) whose African counterparts earn tenfold of what is on offer to them – a pathetic salary of $100 per month, if at all paid. Moreover, foreign forces can do little or nothing in the likelihood of another civil war starting in southern Somalia or elsewhere in the country as we had already witnessed in Kismayo a couple of days ago.

If Somalia is to move forward and find its feet firmly on the ground, the international community (IC) should wholeheartedly support the Somali National Army, although it is still regarded by many as an one clan-based army, by providing them a proper training, sufficient funding and the right equipment to keep the Al Qaeda-affiliated Al Shabaab and other clan-based local militias at bay until such time the country can depend on its resources i.e. fund such operations on its own.

Thus far, there is no meaningful and substantive support for SNA from the international community – only lip service and more money for African peace-keeping forces.  Currently, the bulk of the international funding for peace-keeping operations in Somalia goes to AMISOM and its pen-pushers. A little goes to the Somali National Army. The notion of bringing more peace-keeping forces in the country is not only unsustainable in the long run but it can be counterproductive.

The continuing over-reliance on African peace-keeping forces will create an army within an army and, without any shadow of a doubt, will give the biggest say in the running of the affairs of the country to the contributing countries – Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Djibouti and now Sierra Leone – instead of the legitimate government of Somalia. Any potential disagreement between African peace-keeping forces and the Somali government like the one we had just witnessed in Kismayo when Kenyan Defense forces (KDF) were accused by the Somali president of overstepping their mandate in the Jubbaland fiasco and siding with Adan Madoobe, the President of the newly-elected Jubbaland Federal State of Somalia, will have an adverse and lasting effect on the peace-keeping operations in Somalia. We have already seen the catastrophic impact such an unhealthy confrontation or disagreement could bring up in the surface when Yoweri Museveni of Uganda forced Somalia’s former Prime Minister, Mohamed Abdillahi Farmajo, to resign in the infamous Kampala accord a few years ago. In that incident, Mr. Farmajo was subjected to a humiliating defeat in front of his own people by Museveni.

To conclude this piece, Somalia does not need more peace-keeping forces at this juncture, particularly as Al Shabaab’s threat to peace and stability has been waning for the best part of the last two years. There is no doubt that this dreadful group are still a threat to the public and can create havoc and mayhem in the form of suicide bombing and target assassinations, but they are no longer a force that warrants more foreign forces to be poured into the country. In addition to a proper and genuine long lasting reconciliation between Somali clans, which is sadly missing until now, Somalia needs a representative, well-trained, disciplined and sufficiently equipped Somali National Army to protect the country from any imminent and potential dangers.

The arrival of Sierra Leone peace-keeping contingent will definitely make matters more complicated when we already have accusations and counter accusations flying everywhere in the country right now following the Kismayo debacle. The international community should put its hands where their mouths are, and provide a tangible and genuine support to the Somali National Army. The continuing support for more African peace-keeping forces in Somalia by the international community without providing a meaningful support to the Somali National Army (SNA) in terms of money and equipment will only prolong the suffering and lawlessness of Somali people.

Mohamed F Yabarag
Wardheernews Contributor
Email:Myabarag@gmail.com
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