Donors seek assurances before funding Somalia’s security architecture

The Security Pact between Somalia and donors sets conditions for Somalia before making financial commitments in October this year. Photo: Conference handout|May 11, 2017

International donors have given Somalia a six months window period to institute necessary reforms and conclude agreements between the federal and state governments before easing the purse strings to fund the new security architecture.

The donors said security reform support to Somalia will be pegged on ‘agreed security sector reform milestones, including improved public financial management and payroll systems and the principle of mutual accountability with the context of civilian oversight of the security institutions.’

The milestones are based on a Security Pact between Somalia and international donors which lays the framework of support to the Somalia security architecture.

“Commitments from the International Community, including financial and other means, will be made at the October 2017 follow up conference, as the Federal Government of Somalia and Federal Member States make progress on remaining issues related to the security architecture and implementation mechanism in partnership with Comprehensive Approach to Security Executive group,” the Security Pact read in part..

Somalia had presented the Security Architecture which was approved by Parliament last month to seek international support for its implementation. In the architecture, Somalia proposes a 22,000 strong National Army which the government says must be put in place ahead of Amisom draw-down in 2018.

The Federal Government will have to present its report to the donors during a High Level Partnership Forum in October, the Pact reads.

The Security Pact signed during the London Conference between Somalia and 42 partners sets the framework for international support and commitments on the part of Somalia in realizing the terms of the National Security Architecture.

Britain announced a £21 million support for the implementation of the security reform process last month upon the parliamentary approval of the security architecture.

Speaking during the conference, UK Prime Minister Theresa May said security reform in Somalia is critical in ensuring the capacity of Somali forces to take over from Amisom upon exit.

“As part of this Pact we want to see more detailed plans for Somali security reform so that Somalia can take responsibility for its own security and enable the drawdown of AMISOM troops as conditions on the ground allow,” said May.

May also stressed on the need for coordinated international efforts in training and equipping Somali forces. Currently the UK, US, UAE and Turkey conduct training of various divisions of Somali forces.

EU vice-President Federica Mogherini announced the bloc’s €200 million aid to support development, stability and security in Somalia.

The donors remained non-committal on convincing the UN Security Council to lift the arms embargo on Somalia which President Farmaajo told the conference was limiting Somalia’s fight against Al-Shabaab.

They however ‘committed to support Somalia’s ongoing efforts to build stronger weapons management and control capacities.’

The US said it will train a light infantry to fight the militant group Al-Shabaab. “I have asked General Waldhauser, commander of U.S. Africa Command, to take direct role in training specific numbers of proficient and mobile light infantry capable of defeating Al-Shabaab. Defense secretary General James Mattis said.