Armed attacks have significantly reduced in Somalia in recent years. According to multiple sources including the BBC, about seventy percent of armed attacks have reduced recently in Somalia. But armed conflicts that kill many are still a cause for concern. Notably, armed conflicts in Somalia involve several parties including the Transitional Federal Government, local clan militia and Al-Shabaab. Armed attacks are frequently carried out by armed groups including Al-Shabaab on civilian targets in the capital city and other areas of the country leading to the killing of civilians. Despite the central government’s declaration of ‘total war’ against Al-Shabaab in 2022 and strengthened counter-offensive that remarkably reduced armed attacks, armed conflicts frequently take place in Somalia leading to concern.
Conflicts in Somalia, which descended into a state of anarchy and fighting and political instability involving clan-based war-lords since its independence, have definitely been going on immensely driven by economic, historical, social, political and other causes including a massive power vacuum, the competition of power and resources (land, water and high-value natural resources) and clan-based rivalries after the ouster of President Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. In the current conflict between the government and its allied parties and Al-Shabaab, several foreign groups including the African Union Mission in Somalia — a peacekeeping operation supporting the Somali government — and Kenya are involved against the insurgent group that is based in Somalia and active in several other countries and receives support from some countries in the region and beyond. Importantly, the conflict against Al-Shabaab that started in 2006 with the group’s capture of most of southern Somalia was driven by the feebleness of the central government and other factors.
Efforts were definitely taken many times to end armed conflicts. The United Nations initiated a peace process in 2008 raising hope of ending the conflict but it failed because of a lack of support from the parties including Al-Shabaab. In 2012, a new government was installed with international backing but it failed to end the attack of the extremist group. Importantly, there are challenges including clan based rivalries, political rivalries, the weakness in the central government, continued armed supplies to the extremist group and a lack of an adequately strong military in Somalia, which have economic and many other problems, that may make it difficult not only to completely end armed conflicts but also to maintain peace with mere military means.
It is desired that non-international armed conflicts in Somalia that have spilled over into Kenya are ended. For this, it is definitely important for the Somali government and its international partners to take efforts to prevent the armed attack of Al-Shabaab in civilian areas. But putting emphasis on the negotiation based solution is desired. Notably, the military’s offensive against the extremist group was heavily reacted by Al- Shabaab by attacking civilian areas many times. But the Somali government and armed groups including Al-Shabaab need to hold peace talks to end armed conflicts in Somalia. Political and other challenges need to be addressed. Also, the Somali government needs to make efforts to address economic concerns in the country.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
