Somalia: One Step Closer to Defeating al-Shabaab
| Publisher | Jamestown Foundation |
| Publication Date | 10 March 2017 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 5 |
| Cite as | Jamestown Foundation, Somalia: One Step Closer to Defeating al-Shabaab, 10 March 2017, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 5, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58c6921e4.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Link to original story on Jamestown website
In the build up to his election as Somalia's president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed announced he would invite al-Shabaab for a "sit down and discussion" (Twitter, January, 28). His rhetoric toward the group since then has been less welcoming. The new president, known as Farmaajo, appears confident that he could be the one to bring an end to the al-Qaeda affiliate's violent insurgency. Indeed, there is much that is in his favor.
Farmaajo was elected by legislators in the second round of voting on February 8 (Africa News, February 8). The result was something of a surprise — he had come second in the first round of voting, trailing behind the then-incumbent Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and lacked the kind of regional support bases enjoyed by his rivals — but was welcomed by Somalis and the international community.
At his inauguration on February 22, Farmaajo vowed to build Somalia's military capacity and continue the fight against al-Shabaab (Mareeg, February 22). Earlier, he told politicians and diplomats that the group could be broken in the next two years (Horseed Media, February 19). Despite this, his pre-election appeal to al-Shabaab has not been entirely forgotten.
Al-Shabaab, meanwhile, has vowed its fight against the United Nations-backed government will continue, branding Farmaajo, who has dual U.S. and Somali citizenship, an "American puppet" (Mareeg, February 27).
The group continues to menace the country. There have been several attacks in Mogadishu, and this month militants seized the town of El Baraf in the Middle Shabelle region as the army and African Union (AU) forces pulled back (Garowe Online, March 8). While al-Shabaab has suffered setbacks in the south at the hands of the AU's forces in the country, it continues to make ground further north in Puntland (see Terrorism Monitor, March 10).
Farmaajo's claims that he will be able to bring peace to Somalia, however, may not be entirely without foundation. The election results suggest he has broad political support and may be able to build trust between Somalia's clans. His previous performance as prime minister between 2010 and 2011, though short-lived, suggests he knows how to bring his financial house into order — that could help him cut corruption, but crucially also ensure that soldiers' salaries are paid regularly and on time. That would go a long way to boosting morale in the fight against al-Shabaab.
Somalia is in the midst of a severe drought. There are rumblings from the UN that this has increased the need to engage with al-Shabaab, since the group controls areas of the country badly in need of aid (Daily Nation, January 25).
In reality, talks with the group are unlikely, though Farmaajo's election may well have brought Somalia at least a step closer to defeating al-Shabaab.
