COI-Report-Somalia

EASO Country of Origin Information report — South and Central Somalia — Country overview — 63
A special force unit named ‘Danab’ was built, equipped, trained and paid by the US ( 472 ). The unit’s first base is called
the ‘old Balli Doogle air base’ and is located near Wanla Weyne. Other bases will be established in Galkacyo and
Kismayo ( 473 ).
The wages of rank and file soldiers of the SNAF were raised to USD 160 per month in 2013 ( 474 ) and up to USD 200 plus
USD 60 for food in 2014 ( 475 ). Paying soldiers on time remains a problem ( 476 ). Desertion - one of the main problems
in the past - was drastically curbed ( 477 ).
3.2.2.1 Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) – Issues
Matt Bryden’s overall assessment in relation to Somali forces is, that they ‘remain essentially clan militias, loyal to
individual commanders rather than to the government’ ( 478 ). The allegiances of SNAF soldiers are mostly ‘split due
to clan loyalties, the interests of loosely incorporated local militias, and inconsistent salaries’ ( 479 ). ‘Right now we still
have more militias instead of trained soldiers.’ ( 480 )
Overall, there is a lack of SNAF: ‘The initial AMISOM aim, as evidenced by the liberated parts of the country, seems
to have involved liberating areas controlled by Al‐Shabaab and then handing these over to the SNAF. However, this
no longer appears to be happening, as the SNAF is neither large nor strong enough to hold and protect the areas
currently under the control of AMISOM.’ ( 481 ) This is also mirrored by a statement of AMISOM spokesperson Colonel
Ali Aden Humad: ‘AMISOM trained many Somali soldiers and equipped some. So, the question is where have they
gone When we train them, we turn them over to the government. So, where do they go Where are they kept’ ( 482 )
According to the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group (SEMG), the FGS is distributing weapons to ‘parallel security
forces and clan militias that are not part of the Somali security forces’ along clan and sub‐clan lines ( 483 ). One
destination of weapons is the Hawiye/Abgal clan, through a brigade that is Abgal‐dominated (Middle Shabelle),
and Abgal militia forces ( 484 ). The other destination is the Hawiye/Habr Gedir clan through the 3rd Brigade and clan
militias ( 485 ). As mentioned below, since clan composition of SNAF units still remains an issue, having mixed‐clan
units must be a goal because otherwise ‘it will be seen as an occupying army’ ( 486 ).
( 472 ) The Star, Star exclusive: Somalia’s new war order, 27 May 2014 (http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/05/25/star_exclusive_somalias_new_war_order.
html) accessed 27 May 2014.
( 473 ) The Star, Star exclusive: Somalia’s new war order, 27 May 2014 (http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/05/25/star_exclusive_somalias_new_war_order.
html) accessed 27 May 2014.
( 474 ) Sabahionline, Concerns rise over preparedness of Somali security forces, 15 August 2013 (http://sabahionline.com/en_GB/articles/hoa/articles/
features/2013/08/15/feature-01) accessed 6 June 2014.
( 475 ) Commander in Chief General Dahir Adan Elmi in: Sabahionline, Somali National Army commander: Reviving army will take time, 20 February 2014 (http://
sabahionline.com/en_GB/articles/hoa/articles/features/2014/02/20/feature-01) accessed 6 June 2014.
( 476 ) AMISOM spokesman Col. Ali Aden Houmed in: The Star, Star exclusive: Somalia’s new war order, 27 May 2014 (http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/05/25/
star_exclusive_somalias_new_war_order.html) accessed 27 May 2014.
( 477 ) Security Analysis Expert, Austria: interview by the author, 13 May 2014.
( 478 ) Bryden, M., Somalia Redux Assessing the New Somali Federal Government, Center for Strategic & International Studies, August 2013 (http://csis.org/files/
publication/130819_Bryden_SomaliaRedux_WEB.pdf) accessed 15 May 2014, p. 15; LPI is of the very same opinion: LPI, Alternatives for Conflict Transformation
in Somalia. A snapshot and analysis of key political actors’ views and strategies, 2014 (http://www.life‐peace.org/wp‐content/uploads/The‐ACTS‐Report.
pdf) accessed 27 May 2014, p. 32.
( 479 ) Sabahionline, Challenges of rebuilding a united Somali National Army, 24 October 2013 (http://sabahionline.com/en_GB/articles/hoa/articles/
features/2013/10/24/feature-01) accessed 30 May 2014.
( 480 ) AMISOM spokesman Col. Ali Aden Houmed in: The Star, Star exclusive: Somalia’s new war order, 27 May 2014 (http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2014/05/25/
star_exclusive_somalias_new_war_order.html) accessed 27 May 2014.
( 481 ) Atta‐Asamoah, A. & Ramis Segui, N., Situation Report Somalia: Somalia: Fighting the odds in the search for peace after the transition, ISS Africa, March 2014
(http://www.issafrica.org/uploads/SitRep5Mar14.pdf) accessed 3 June 2014, p. 5.
( 482 ) Sabahionline, AMISOM spokesperson: Expect big changes this year in fight against al‐Shabaab, 7 February 2014 (http://sabahionline.com/en_GB/articles/
hoa/articles/features/2014/02/07/feature-02) accessed 6 June 2014.
( 483 ) SEMG, Letter dated 6 February 2014 from the Coordinator of the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group addressed to the Chair of the Security Council
Committee Pursuant to Resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009), 6 February 2014 (http://somalianews.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/6-feb-2014-
unmg‐memo‐somalia‐arms‐diversion.pdf) accessed 5 June 2014, p. 4.
( 484 ) SEMG, Letter dated 6 February 2014 from the Coordinator of the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group addressed to the Chair of the Security Council
Committee Pursuant to Resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009), 6 February 2014 (http://somalianews.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/6-feb-2014-
unmg‐memo‐somalia‐arms‐diversion.pdf) accessed 5 June 2014, p. 4.
( 485 ) SEMG, Letter dated 6 February 2014 from the Coordinator of the Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group addressed to the Chair of the Security Council
Committee Pursuant to Resolutions 751 (1992) and 1907 (2009), 6 February 2014 (http://somalianews.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/6-feb-2014-
unmg‐memo‐somalia‐arms‐diversion.pdf) accessed 5 June 2014, p. 5.
( 486 ) Sources want to remain anonymous, November 2013.