Reconstitution of the Somali military

[OdaySomali]

The U.S, Turkey and Egypt have all stated that in their different capacities, they will train, arm and fund a "new" Somali Military. Turkey and Egypt's offers have as of yet only been pledges rather than concrete planned action. The U.S on the other hand has indicated that it has a thorough and comprehensive plan to rebuild the Somali military and to [eventually] do away with AMISOM.

 

What are everyone's thoughts on this?

[OdaySomali]

The U.S.A Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson said the following:

 

The second major issues under focus was Somalia. Secretary Clinton also participated in this meeting. Somalia is a good news story for the region, for the international community, but most especially for the people of Somalia itself. Over the past 12 months we have seen the completion of the transitional roadmap ending the TFG and creating a new Somali Government. For the first time in nearly two decades, Somalia has a new provisional constitution. It has a newly selected parliament which is half the size of the former parliament and comprises some 18 percent women and whose membership is comprised of some 60 percent university graduates. There's been a new speaker selected and a new president elected. Great progress has been achieved in Somalia, and this is in large measure because of the combined efforts of IGAD, the African Union, the UN and the international community, and especially the United States.

 

At this meeting, we heard from Somalia's new president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and it was broadly agreed that the international community would support the new emphasis in priorities of the government.

 

For our part in Washington, we are determined to do three things. One is to help the new government put in place the infrastructure so that it can run effectively. This means helping to create effective government ministries, have those ministries staffed with effective civil servants and advisors so that they can carry out their government functions.

 

The second is to help to create a new Somali national army, an army that is subservient to civilian and constitutional control, an army that is able to work alongside of AMISOM and take on increasingly new responsibilities that are much broader than anything AMISOM has been equipped and manned to do. But creating a new strong Somali army, to eventually replace AMISOM is a second priority. And third priority is to provide assistance to the government so that it can deliver services to the people so that it can rebuild and refurbish and re-staff schools, hospitals, and medical clinics, provide assistance so that it can begin to deal with some of its smaller infrastructure issues, providing clean water to populations, helping to restore electrical power and also opening up markets. We also want to help in developing small enterprise and microcredit operations to help the government as well.

 

So we will be working there. As I said, Secretary Clinton was there. We think Somalia has made enormous progress. We also believe there has been significant military progress against al-Shabaab. AMISOM deserves an enormous amount of credit in driving al-Shabab out of Mogadishu and its environs and also moving against the city of Kismayo. Much credit for the operations in Kismayo go to the Kenyan forces who were a part of AMISOM, but we must praise the leadership of the Ugandan commanders who have led the AMISOM mission over the last four years. But Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya all deserve credit, and they will soon be joined by forces arriving literally today and tomorrow from Sierra Leone to help strengthen AMISOM. But the international community has been in unison with IGAD and the AU, and the U.S. has been a significant and major contributor to this effort.

I stress that in the case of Somalia, where we have seen enormous progress over the last 12 months, and in fact, continuously over the last three, three and a half years, there has been a clear commitment by all who were engaged there to follow a common strategy and adopt a set of common views. EGAD and the East African community, who are the most important players around Somalia, the AU, the U.S., the UN and others have all had a common position. And I think that's why Somalia has achieved so much success over the last 12 months in terms of moving to a more permanent government and making the strides in success against al-Shabaab. We look to try to have the same kind of both regional and international cooperation on Mali.

we applaud the work of AMISOM and what they have done in helping to degrade and defeat and push al-Shabaab out of Somalia's main cities and towns. We believe that this will help to bring about a return to stability in Somalia and will reduce, over time, the terrorist threat to Somalis and to neighboring states. We believe that the Kenyan role in liberating the south as a part of AMISOM is important and deserves the support of both IGAD, the African Union, and the international community.

On this - on the first question that you asked, we have in Washington been strong supporters of AMISOM, major contributors to the AMISOM effort, largely by training and equipping AMISOM battalions that have gone into Somalia to help fight the al-Shabaab. Going forward, we would anticipate that most of our new and additional resources, as they come to us, will be directed at helping to train and provision a new Somali military, not to continue to expand AMISOM. The focus should be on creating a national Somali army that will take over from AMISOM and will assume the responsibilities of providing national security and defense for the nation.

 

I do not at this time have any dollar figures that I can share with you on what we would be providing to the Somali Government to train Somali military forces. We have done some of this in the past. We have trained small units of Somali TFG troops in Bihanga, Uganda at a military camp. We would expect that we will, over time, continue to do this and expand it and to make more of the training local in Somalia for both cost effectiveness and for political reasons. But we look at the focus going forward being directed at strengthening the Somali national military and not expanding the AMISOM effort, which has been extraordinarily valuable and important.

SOURCE

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

It will take lots of fundings and training to reconstitute the Somali army the countries you mentioned can only help with training as Turkey helps set up police cadets. But the real work needs to be done by the people of Somalia and the government of Somalia to recruit new army personal and take care of them and pay their salaries on time and give them the training they need. Only Somali security forces can fill the vacuum there is so little the Amisom forces can do they also need a time table when leaving the country.All in all Somalia is not there yet the united states and western countries clearly say one thing and mean the other.

 

To meet the level of requirements to achieve the variety of structure the army needs to function as a proper institution for the Somali people.It needs to start with a strong foundation supported not only by the government but also the civil society across Somalia so that the army transformation model will be as effective to secure the entire country.

[OdaySomali]

Other notable development:

 

- Although AMISOM clearly ay isku dayayso inay cunoqabatayso dowladda cusub, Carson has made it clear (for what his face-value speech was worth anyway) that AMISOM will not receive more funding but instead the American government intends to direct these resources to the rebuilding the Somali security sector.

 

- The interesting part is where the A.U, on behalf of the AMISOM troops wants to have the Somalia weapons embargo lifted, so that they will be able to get further weapons, ammunition and arms. However the UN security council has made it clear that it is too early to lift the embargo. My concern is that rather than empowering a Somali military, a lifting of the embargo will be used as an opportunity to empoer and bolster the capabilities of AMISOM. It is clear that the AMISOM countries are milking Somalia and a lifting of the embargo would be used as an opporunity to gain more military hardware in the name of the Somali Republic.

 

- In addition the A.U and AMISOM troops want to create a AMISOM coastguard that will have the mandate of securing the Somali coastline. However, the U.S, E.U and U.N security council have objected to this and have halted any happening of this. This proposed idea conflicts with the plans of the international flotilla that is situated off Somalia's coast - the E.U has made it very clear that it (perhaps for the fishing resources) wants te be in lead of any initiatives off the Somali coast.

 

- You will all be aware of Uganda's attempt to play hard-ball politics when it announced that it will withdraw its troops from Somalia. Ugandan has been in effect - probably by the use of both carrot and stick) told by Carson to shut up, sit down and they they are not going anywhere.

 

- China has announced funding for AMISON. The country has previously provided some funding to Uganda and Kenya for their operations in Somalia.

[Nin-Yaaban]

Nice. China could really do a lot to help Somalia.

[Daqane]

The talks with the turks are in an advanced stage do not forget that both fiqi and cisse visited turkey several times for precisely this reason.

 

Beyond that to my mind US training subcontracted to private military companies will not be an option, the passage below in a different context sums it up...

THE COMING BATTLE FOR AFRICA

Living in South Africa, I watch with morbid fascination at how the US and China are racing to recapture Africa – the US with AFRICOM and China with business development and investment. Africa, despite its many problems, is increasingly becoming of more strategic interest and importance to both the US and China.

 

Whereas the approaches these two nations are following differ vastly, their ultimate aim is the same: control over Africa’s strategic resources – especially oil reserves.

 

The U.S Africa Command (AFRICOM), established in October 2007, is described as being a Unified Combatant Command of the US Department of Defence and is responsible for U.S. military operations and military relations with 53 African nations. This overtly aggressive entrance into Africa has been criticised by many African governments.

 

The Chinese on the other hand are following a much more passive approach with business development and investment. This approach, too, has been subject to much criticism as some view it as the Chinese colonisation of Africa. Several African governments reject this allegation, claiming that the Chinese have never betrayed or destabilised African countries as the US has – and African governments have long memories.

 

Additionally, many African governments feel that the Chinese have been open about their desires: control over and exploitation of resources for the ever-hungry Chinese economy. On the other hand, the US is using the route of the Global War on Terror (GWOT) as their entrance key into Africa but underlying this is the need to control Africa’s oil.

 

To achieve this, the US African Crisis Response Initiative (ACRI) was transformed into a new programme called the African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA). ACOTA’s aim is to “train military trainers and equip African national militaries to conduct peace support operations and humanitarian relief”. To achieve this, ACOTA is contracting US PMCs, some with little or no knowledge of Africa. This, in turn, is going to cause the US more problems in the long run than solutions or influence. But this approach is seen by others to attempt to detract from the US’s plans to militarise their foreign policy.

 

The Chinese, on the other hand, have financialised their foreign policy with regard to Africa. This includes the identification, procurement and exploitation of resources and strategic commodities. Included in this financial-driven foreign policy are massive credit lines, infrastructure development, export-development and so forth. The latest Chinese export to Africa is the massive Chinese weapons market.

 

As the war in Iraq winds down, more US PMCs are vying for a stake in ACOTA/AFRICOM. Whereas there is nothing wrong with such a shift in business development, the problem arises when some of these PMCs have no knowledge or experience of the continent. To illustrate this point, I mention some questions I have recently received from US PMCs:

 

1. Can I help them find someone who speaks “African”? Africa does not have a common language but literally hundreds of languages and dialects.

2. Can I introduce them to someone who has a licence to “carry and use arms” in Africa as they would like to “piggy-back” on such a licence? Africa is a continent with many countries, each with their own laws and regulations – there is no common licence to carry arms.

3. Can I suggest some “good” Third-Country nationals they can use in Africa? We who live in Africa take exception to being referred to as third-world nationals on our own continent…

 

Whereas questions such as these are very serious cause for concern, they also illustrate a complete lack of even basic geographical and linguistic knowledge of Africa. Furthermore, this is akin to a company with no engineering background or skills tendering for a massive engineering contract and then scrambling to find people who will carry out the contract if they are awarded it.

 

Whereas I understand something of business, I also understand something of Africa. It is PMCs such as these that will, more than likely, undermine the efficiency of African militaries as opposed to enhancing them. They will bring with them more chance of conflict than of peace and stability. Then of course, there is the concern that these PMCs will train African troops poorly – in case they ever have to face them on the battlefield.

 

These issues are not unknown to the Chinese who will, no doubt, exploit them to the hilt when the time comes. They suspect that AFRICOM and ACOTA will eventually create additional chaos and destabilisation and that this will give them free rein in Africa. Added to this volatile mix is the knowledge that the US military’s adventures in Africa have not been very successful.

 

Africa, however, ought to realise that it is the creator of many of its own problems and that these problems have given foreign governments an influence and power they ought never to have had.

 

But, whether we like it or not, the battle lines between the US and China have been drawn across the sand in Africa. We who live here must now just wait for the final battle for Africa to begin.

Posted by Eeben Barlow's Milsec Blog at 2:25 PM

[Daqane]

Egypt is also a rather limited option, a demoralized officer class one more suited to rentier economic activities and military involvement in politics, as well as a military posture dedicated to big arms actions and corps sized maneuvers might not be the best option for a Somali military whose mandate for the foreseeable future will be Counter insurgency operations and state establishment in areas that have seen no semblance for over 20 years.

 

That leaves turkey trained to NATO standards, in-depth knowledge of large scale COIN operations such as against the PKK, as well as the equipment such as the otokar mpv appropriate to a developing nation, and the budget to independently fund an in-depth training program for the Somali military.

 

 

So I think it will be turkey..

[SomaliNationalist]

a real somali army lead by patriots should be economical and political indepedent from foreigners, the colonist armies in Somalia will Inshallah with the help from Allah get defeated Amen

[Sulleiman The Great]

one should be careful of what he asks for a somali army made in the south, and who's only interest is mugdishu will only serve to make the rest of the country look like mugdishu, I believe right now the best course of action is to have a self defence force for each region, build and develop the country economically to be able to sustain a somali army, build a power infrastructure that is free of bias, build a chain of command that is well disciplined and only answer to their superiors, then start integrating state defense forces, create regional and national defense plans. Finally choose battle tested, educated, patriotic, and enlightened officers, who would be willing to kill & die for any region of somalia. From there we would have the most powerful military in east africa, loyal only to the people of somalia.

[Somalia]

There's no such thing as the SNA and there hasn't been since 1977. What we have today are militias. Notice how many of the commanders are former warlords because they lead their qabiil who today are pro-government.

 

Therefore the so-called "army" has little or no legitimacy to call itself a national army.

[OdaySomali]

Somali Government signs landmark coastal protection contract

 

The Minister of Defense for the Federal Government of Somalia has signed a contract with Dutch Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group to deliver structure, assets and services in order to develop an effective and sustainable Coast Guard in Somalia.

 

Instituting a Coast Guard is essential for the establishment of the rule of law within Somali waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This contract clearly contributes to the stability and economic recovery of Somalia and is supporting the Country’s Six Pillar Policy.

 

With its Headquarters in The Netherlands, The Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group and the Somali Government have set out the main objectives for the new structured Somali Coast Guard:

• Monitoring and Surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zone

• Patrolling, controlling and securing the Exclusive Economic Zone.

• Securing trade and Ports

• Protecting natural resources

• Protection of fishing grounds from illegal foreign fishing boats

• Prevention of dumping of toxic materials

• Search, Rescue and Anti-Smuggling services

 

The Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group has developed a series of innovative Long Range Patrol Vessels, equipped with high speed intervention vessels. The Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group will build, maintain and operate the Coast Guard Fleet in compliance with Somali Coast Guard Directorate in a safe, effective and cost efficient manner.

 

The Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group has developed an education and training programme for the Somali Coast Guard Directorate and will develop a Coast Guard Training Centre to train Somali Coast Guard personnel, security officers and shore based support personnel.

 

The Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group will aim to hand over all development, training and operations aspects within medium term to the Somali Coast Guard Directorate.

 

The Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group will operate, on behalf of the authority and administrative command of the Federal Republic of Somalia – Somali Coast Guard Directorate and will adhere to all applicable embargoes and restrictions set by the United Nations.

http://horseedmedia.net/2013/07/30/somali-government-signs-landmark-coastal-protection-contract/

[OdaySomali]

^^

 

- Initially, six Long Range Patrol Ships with each ship containing 2 High Speed Intervention Vessels will be delivered - the ships will be manned by Somali personnel and have the capacity to stay at sea [patrolling] for 30 days at a time. The first of the patrol ships and its high-speed intervention vessels will be delivered in early 2014. The ships will be provided/part-built by an unspecified Dutch company and a domestic ship maintenance and repair yard will be built inside Somalia.

 

- An interconnected Radar system will set up along the entire coast; in addition Monitoring Stations and a co-ordination centre will be created.

 

- Part of the agreement is that 3,000 Somali personnel will be trained who will play an integral part in the set-up and the operations, all tasks and resonsibilities will gradually be handed over to them from the trainers and facilitators.

 

- The value contract is said to be in the 100's of millions of dollars and for a duration of 5-7 years, by which the deliverables specified in the contract specification will have to be completed. The deliverables include: the creation of the [Navy] organisational structure; the training of the 3,000 Somali personell; the setting up of the radar and monitoring network; delivery and operationalising of the ships; and the construction of the ship repair and maintenance yard.

 

http://www.z24.nl/ondernemen/nederlandse-opdracht-kustwacht-somalie

http://www.nu.nl/buitenland/3540320/rotterdams-bedrijf-zet-kustwacht-somalie.html

 

 

[Dr_Osman]

OdaySomali;971928 wrote:

^^

 

- Initially, six Long Range Patrol Ships with each ship containing 2 High Speed Intervention Vessels will be delivered - the ships will be manned by Somali personnel and have the capacity to stay at sea [patrolling] for 30 days at a time. The first of the patrol ships and its high-speed intervention vessels will be delivered in early 2014. The ships will be provided/part-built by an unspecified Dutch company and a domestic ship maintenance and repair yard will be built inside Somalia.

 

- An interconnected Radar system will set up along the entire coast; in addition Monitoring Stations and a co-ordination centre will be created.

 

- Part of the agreement is that 3,000 Somali personnel will be trained who will play an integral part in the set-up and the operations, all tasks and resonsibilities will gradually be handed over to them from the trainers and facilitators.

 

- The value contract is said to be in the 100's of millions of dollars and for a duration of 5-7 years, by which the deliverables specified in the contract specification will have to be completed. The deliverables include: the creation of the [Navy] organisational structure; the training of the 3,000 Somali personell; the setting up of the radar and monitoring network; delivery and operationalising of the ships; and the construction of the ship repair and maintenance yard.

 

http://www.z24.nl/ondernemen/nederlandse-opdracht-kustwacht-somalie

http://www.nu.nl/buitenland/3540320/rotterdams-bedrijf-zet-kustwacht-somalie.html

 

I find this thread disgusting and it turns my stomach that people are promoting this sick agenda to see a strong mogadishu. What happens if Somalia is armed to the teeth, what's going to stop another 91 genocide from occuring. Do we have mature stakeholders to be in possession of such state of art technology. I clearly don't believe Somalia is ready for such arms build up and it would be best served if this was geared towards the peace driven and responsible puntland.