Somali President, currently visiting Dhuusamareeb, revealed a multi-pillar plan to combat al-Shabaab. The President has made a significant announcement regarding the government’s strategy to counter the al-Shabaab insurgency, emphasising that the battle cannot be won solely through military means.
Dhuusamareeb, Galmudug State, SOMALIA. By Jama:
Hassan Sheikh asserted that the absence of a well-defined policy endorsed by the Somali government had hindered previous efforts against al-Shabaab. He underscored the vital necessity of a multifaceted approach that goes beyond military operations. “We’ve recognised that a purely military offensive is insufficient to achieve victory over the group,” Hassan Sheikh stated.
The President outlined a comprehensive plan with three fundamental pillars to decisively end the ongoing conflict: the continuation of military operations, an ideological confrontation with al-Shabaab, and a robust economic offensive.
The announcement comes at a time when the Somali government is trying to conclude the initial phase of an operation aimed at liberating al-Shabaab-held territories in Galmudug. The government’s intention to employ a multifaceted strategy signals a departure from the previous approach that relied almost solely on military intervention. Many experts criticised that approach, claiming that the government fails to govern the liberated territory and therefore loses it soon again to al-Shabaab.
Switch in government’s approach?
In a recently published report, authors Mohamed Mubarak and Ashley Jackson emphasise that al-Shabaab’s survival hinges on strategic civilian interaction, not a military defeat. The experts suggest that the group is playing the long game.
This is different from the mainstream perception the Somali government used to disseminate, which mainly revolved around al-Shabaab’s military defeat. The government and its media channels have focused on the military offensive, informing about alleged hundreds of killed al-Shabaab fighters. However, the government narratives lacked the focus on governance, on territories both governed by or liberated from al-Shabaab.
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s recent remarks and announcement of the three-pillar strategy to confront al-Shabaab reflects a pragmatic recognition of the complexities of eradicating the group. Coupling military action with ideological and economic measures would be a step in the right direction.
