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Photo: Stuart Price/UN Multimedia
Relative peace at Lido Beach in Mogadishu.
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Mogadishu — The spate of recent attacks in Mogadishu and al-Shabaab's offensive during Ramadan have raised concerns among many Somalis about the government's ability to tame the violence.
Former Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) chief Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said the federal government did not inherit a national army capable of ensuring security, and it faces major obstacles for which it needs assistance.
Fiqi said the government needs to come up with a clear plan to fight al-Shabaab, deal with tribal related conflicts and effectively organise and train Somali soldiers in order to receive such help.
"The regional administrations, the public, the clerics, the artists, the youth, the cultural elders, all of them have to be part of the fight [for peace] -- then we can call out to the world," he said.
An effective plan from the administration would appeal to and respond to the needs of a cross section of Somali society, and to be successful it would also require each party to help the government implement it, Fiqi said.
The most important thing, he said, is to build a strong sense of nationalism among government soldiers. "Our soldiers have to believe in the fight as a creed [because] it still seems as though the enemy is unknown."
Fiqi advised that security forces use modern counter-terrorism methods, including telephone and electronic surveillance. "Interception is important for intelligence. [Al-Shabaab] uses local telephones so their phone conversations have to be listened to."
Al-Shabaab threats and attacks
Al-Shabaab spokesman Abdiasis Abu Musab announced on August 5th that the militant group had carried out 26 attacks on the 27th day of Ramadan -- considered one of the holiest days during the month -- in Somalia's Benadir, Bay and Lower Shabelle regions.
His announcement came a day after as many as 20 al-Shabaab grenade attacks across Mogadishu injured at least 15 people. These followed a recent wave of raids and bombings by the militants that targeted government centres and foreign diplomatic and humanitarian installations, including attacks on the Turkish Embassy and the UN compound in Mogadishu.
The attacks and threats of more to come are frightening civilians who live in areas under the government control, according to the Peace Coalition, which comprises political parties, interest groups and civil-based organisations in Mogadishu. The group said the government is to blame for being ineffective and unprepared in protecting people against the al-Shabaab threat.
Somali citizens have been forced to heed al-Shabaab's order to stay away from government buildings and international humanitarian organisation, which is affecting their ability to access aid, Peace Coalition Chairman Abdullahi Sheikh Hassan said.
"The government's stagnation has encouraged al-Shabaab to threaten people not to go to or live in certain areas," he told Sabahi.
Erecting barriers and closing public roads will do nothing to improve security, Hassan said, adding that the government should come up with a better plan that would include highly trained and well-equipped soldiers.
"Two thousand [well trained] officers would be enough to secure Mogadishu," he said.
Government says 90% of al-Shabaab attacks have failed
In contrast, Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon's Spokesman Ridwan Haji Abdiwali defended the federal government's record in warding off al-Shabaab attacks.
"Ninety per cent of al-Shabaab's [intended] plots have failed, and there is no truth to the propaganda and the negative images portrayed about security," Abdiwali told Sabahi.
The government also has dismissed accusations that it was unprepared to work on the security question.
According to Abdiwali, the government for the first time has succeeded to pay regular salaries to troops. Each soldier receives $160 in wages monthly, which is more than what they previously received intermittently, Abdiwali said.
In addition, he said the Somali military soon will add another 1,800 troops but declined to provide further details.
However, according to retired Somali National Army Colonel Abdikarim Daud, the government has experienced security gaps and lagged behind in building a reliable security apparatus because the national military continues to not be fully organised and funded. Some members of the security forces are still not getting paid regularly, said Daud, who served under the Mohamed Siad Barre regime.
"A poor, hungry man cannot ensure security, [...] a good army has to be built whose welfare are provided and who are held accountable," he said.
The government has also yet to bring about national reconciliation, Daud said.
"Security is jeopardised every time the country's unity is damaged," he said, adding that in addition to al-Shabaab, "disgruntled tribes" could be fuelling chaos in some areas.
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