Address the root cause of conflict between security forces

The deadly clash Wednesday between security units in the city which left two people dead adds to a number of other incidents in the past signaling a worrying trend on the command and control of security forces in the country.

The two units- intelligence agency (NISA) and national army forces reportedly trained in the UAE run military academy in Mogadishu exchanged fire lasting for close to half an hour in Tarabunka area in Hodan district causing a scare among members of the public.

Four NISA officers were killed last July in a similar clash with the elite presidential squad near Villa Somalia. Two months later in September, at least six people were killed when SNA forces fought with Mogadishu Stabilisation Force in Hanta-Dheer area in Mogadishu.

President Mohamed Farmaajo then demanded answers from security chiefs. Yesterday, Prime Minister Hassan Khaire also sought answers from the security chiefs. But as previous cases indicate, this may not be the last of such incidents.

The clash between security forces point to a disturbingly weak command and control structures within the various units and overall leadership in the security sector. It is emerging the leadership of the various units have not been able to fully take charge and instill discipline among their troops. This must urgently be addressed.

The fact that our security forces receive training from various quarters with hardly a unified and harmonized system immensely contributes to the sour relations among security forces. The consequences of a divided force are dire and must raise concerns among security chiefs and leadership of the country. It is even the more disturbing in a country which is waging war against terror groups who find fodder in such clashes as yesterday’s.

The National Security Architecture approved by Parliament last year sought to address this issue. It spells out the need for standardized training of all security forces. Indeed the AU Peace and Security Council warned last month the lack of harmonized and unified training of Somali Security Forces was ‘causing confusion’.

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