The flag of Somalia
By Dr Abdiwahab Sheikh Abdisamad
Somalia is at a crossroads, with the future of its state-building efforts hanging in the balance.
The existence of regional forces, heavily armed and operating independently of the national army’s authority, presents a significant threat to the country’s stability and security.
The risk of these forces being utilized as foreign proxies to overthrow governments and exert undue influence is real and present.
The situation in Sudan, where the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is being used as a foreign proxy to overthrow the government, serves as a cautionary tale for Somalia.
The RSF started as a regional force, created to protect the government in Khartoum but later became a tool to challenge the government, and now controls a vast array of economic interests.
Somalia must act now to prevent a similar scenario from unfolding. The disbandment of regional forces should be a top priority for the central government.
These forces, armed with significant military equipment and numbering in the thousands, pose a grave danger to the country’s stability and security. They have already shown a propensity for engaging in violent clashes with each other, further destabilizing the already fragile political environment.
The continued existence of regional forces undermines Somalia’s state-building efforts. They create an environment of mistrust and suspicion between the federal and regional governments and erode the authority of the central government.
Somalia needs a strong and unified national army to maintain law and order, protect its citizens, and defend its sovereignty.
To achieve this, Somalia must take decisive action to disband these regional forces. The central government must assert its authority and bring all security forces under its control.
This process may not be easy, but it is essential if Somalia hopes to move forward and build a stable and prosperous future for its people.