By Ismail D. Osman
Thursday July 14, 2022
After months of
confusion, tension, and political theatre, Somalia elected former President
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to the presidency, defeating incumbent President Mohamed
Abdullahi Mohamed in a third-round run decided by a parliamentary vote of
214-110. In a sign of the times, the vote was held in an airport hangar
protected by blast walls built to prevent al-Shabaab insurgents from gaining
access to the new leader and potentially impacting the election, underscoring
the recognition that al-Shabaab remains the preeminent and ongoing threat to
Somali governance.
The political uncertainty of the months leading up to the election
resulted in a cycle of civil unrest and political violence on the streets of
Mogadishu when, in April, 2021, the Somali Parliament announced an
unconstitutional two-year extension to President Abdullahi’s term, an action
vehemently condemned by leaders around the world, fueling instability in an
already volatile region. With the election secured, President Hassan Sheikh
Mohamud must now focus his attention on what he promised to be a top priority -
the dissolution and destruction of Al-Shabaab, a clan-based insurgent and
terrorist group that operates with seeming impunity since their inception in
2006. The terrorist tactics used against the Somali people as well as the
Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), Federal Member States (FMS), and African
Union Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) created an untenable environment of fear and oppression
that President Mohamud must immediately rectify.
During his previous tenure, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was
credited with his full force and an offensive that pushed Al-Shabaab out of
some local areas but came short to deliver the decisive blow that would have
finally and definitively eliminated the scourge of Al-Shabaab. For the sake of Somalia’s
future, he simply cannot afford to swing and miss. Re-establishing trust and
protection from Al-Shabaab to the Somali people, and simultaneously beginning
to seize their assets and remove their financial upper hand. President Mohamud
must take any security leverage Al-Shabaab has of remaining in power by working
to disintegrate their control over the minds of Somali communities.
Recognizing that our new President faces the daunting task of
governing a nation suffering the worst drought in four decades and plagued by
incessant civil strife, the priority should nevertheless remain on securing
Somalia from the detrimental presence of Al-Shabaab. The strength of anonymity
gives the terrorist group an upper hand in gaining and maintaining their power
in the country, and endless second-guessing of the safety of the Somali people
pushes Somalia further into the mental hesitance that strengthens al-Shabaab’s
position in the country. The Government of Somalia must make an effort in
building and maintaining the strength of their armies to have the resources to
fight back against the terrorist group instead of complying and accepting
defeat. Protection through the military will remind civilians of the power of
the Government and will be an effective way to show the people that Somalia is
strong enough to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Al-Shabaab
is only as strong as the fear that surrounds them, once that fear is removed
the Somali Government will be able to take devastating actions in weakening the
terrorist group significantly.
A
report from the United Nations has indicated through
practices of intimidation and brutal methods of coercion, -Shabaab raises as
much revenue as the country's authorities, estimated at of $20M a month in
“taxes” extorted from the Mogadishu business community and the Mogadishu port,
illegal levies that started in 2017 under the previous administration. It is
vital the Somali
Government make extra efforts to reveal the secret accounts Al-Shabaab holds, and seize these assets by any legal means necessary, including
new fiscal legislation, specialized training, international policy and
strengthening regional and international cooperation against the financing of
terroris
Investigating, proving, and eliminating the methods of terrorist
financing is a highly complex activity that will require the involvement of
many world leaders and countries. Suppressing terrorism financing is an
essential step in any strategic initiative to develop the capacity to
investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate terrorist financing and rid the world,
and our country, of this long-suffering criminal crisis. Once the Government
have protected the Somali people from terrorist attacks, fear is no longer
under Al-Shabaab’s control. Removing their financial resources should be
centered on the efforts against Al-Shabaab.
Ultimately, in order Al-Shabaab to be weakened to a point
of no return, significant actions must be taken to solidify the power of the
Somali Government and Presidency. Prioritizing protection of the people through
military might, will provide an efficient and intellectual way to eliminate
Al-Shabaab's menace to Somalia and neighboring countries.
It is time for the
leadership of our country to do everything in their power to prioritize the
safety and security of their people.
Ismail D. Osman: Former Deputy Director of Somalia National Intelligence & Security Agency (NISA) – Writes in Somalia, Horn of Africa Security and Geopolitical focusing on governance and security. You can reach him [email protected]