UN Special Rapporteur: Somali Govt cannot beat Al-Shabaab, pursue dialogue

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali National Army (SNA) and allied forces may not be in a position to beat Al-Shabaab, a United Nations special envoy has said, in what seems to be a direct admission that military actions within the Horn of Africa nation are 'an exercise in futility'.

A few weeks ago, the United States, one of the biggest financial partners of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), threatened to withdraw funding, calling for equal commitment from other multinational partners.

Ben Saul, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism, says the time has come for all entities to pursue political dialogue with the al-Shabaab, a group seeking to topple the government of Somalia.

Military solutions, he warned, are insufficient and may not solve the two-decade-long war, which has left thousands of people dead, mainly innocent civilians and senior government officials, along with security officers.

In Mogadishu, Saul highlighted the need for reconciliation, arguing that several al-Shabaab commanders were ready for dialogue. The armed conflict was first reported in 2007, and to date, there are no signs of defeating the group.

“I do think there is a consensus now that there can’t be a military solution to Al-Shabaab,” Saul told reporters in what could potentially change the course in the fight against the group, which dominates parts of central and southern regions.

“I encourage the government to intensify its efforts to negotiate with receptive elements of Al-Shabaab and to seek a political reconciliation rooted in Somali customs of dialogue.”

In his submissions, he also accused the clan militia commonly known as Macawislay of gross violation of human rights within the Hiiraan region. Some of the militants captured recently, he said, were beheaded by the militia.

The U.N. expert further criticized the Somali authorities for widespread violations of press freedom. He said journalists have been arbitrarily detained, intimidated, and had their social media accounts and websites suspended simply for reporting on terrorism-related matters.

The international community and the government of Somalia have extensively invested in military solutions against Al-Shabaab, with the AUSSOM even seeking an additional 8,000 soldiers even after the drawdown from 20,000 to around 11,900 recently.

Besides military solutions, Somalia is also using religious scholars to counter the radicalization of its youth, but the efforts are yet to bear fruit. Also, Al-Shabaab financiers have been targeted, with the government closing down several bank accounts and mobile money transfer firms.

In separate interviews, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has admitted to possible dialogue with Al-shabaab but ruled it out, saying 'we can discuss with them but not soon', adding that 'after we have made tangible gains' in the war. The Al-Shabaab group has recently been reported to be making gains.

GAROWE ONLINE