Can Somalia Avoid an Afghanistan-like Fate? A US General Weighs In

NAIROBI, Kenya - In a recent interview, a retired general in the Somali National Army, Hassan Ali Qaylow, expressed concerns about the potential for Somalia to face an Afghanistan-like fate. He believes that the key to preventing such a scenario lies in boosting the morale of the Somali troops.

"If the army's morale is low, its leadership is inappropriate and capacity is inadequate, then nothing can motivate the soldiers to fight the extremists that act under strong religious belief," Qaylow stated.

However, not everyone shares this pessimistic outlook. General Michael Langley, the Commander of the US Africa Command (Africom), is more optimistic about Somalia's future. He believes that the Somali people have the power to prevent their country from descending into chaos. "Amidst any ongoing Atmis drawdown, Al Shabaab is looking to exploit any resultant security vacuum through harassing attacks and security forces, and the Somali National Army realizes that and they're shoring up their defenses to be able to take that amidst some of the transition or transfer of different bases," Langley said.

Langley's confidence stems from the fact that the Somali government has prioritized security in the transition from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (Atmis) to the use of local forces. He believes that this transition is crucial for the country to move from liberation to stabilization, ensuring that territories won over by Al Shabaab do not fall back into the hands of militants.

To achieve this, Langley argues that it is essential for the public to be won over to the plan by the federal government as well as that of federal state authorities in the country. He also called on financial institutions to cut off funding channels to Al Shabaab and asked the public to rename the group in terminology that describes them as outcasts.

Despite Langley's optimism, there are still concerns about the potency of Al Shabaab as a threat. The Acting Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Somalia, James Swan, recently briefed ambassadors accredited to Somalia, noting that the government has prioritized security in the transition but warned that the militant group remains a potent threat.

As Somalia navigates this delicate transition, the world watches with bated breath. 

GAROWE ONLINE