TheSomaliDiary

Somalia’s Political, Security, and Economic Landscape  Somalia stands at a critical juncture, grappling with a complex mix of political instability, security threats, and economic fragility. The country, which has long suffered from civil conflict and weak governance structures, has made significant yet fragile progress in state-building. The federal government continues to struggle with power disputes among federal member states, clan-based rivalries, and delayed elections that hinder political stability.  On the security front, armed oppoaition groups remains a potent force, orchestrating frequent attacks on both civilian and military targets. Despite ongoing counterterrorism efforts by the Somali National Army (SNA) and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), the militant group maintains control over strategic areas, disrupting governance and humanitarian operations.  Economically, Somalia faces a daunting reality. With a heavy reliance on external a...

Ethiopia Joins AUSSOM Mission: A New Chapter in Somalia’s Security Landscape The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) has witnessed a significant development with the inclusion of Ethiopian troops among its contributing forces. This decision, the outcome of high-level discussions between the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Ethiopia, marks a critical step in the evolving dynamics of Somalia’s security framework. Background of Ethiopia’s Engagement Ethiopia has historically played an active role in Somalia’s stability, both bilaterally and through multilateral mechanisms. The Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) have been involved in countering the Al-Shabaab insurgency for years, often operating outside the formal African Union mandate. However, their recent inclusion within the AUSSOM framework signals a more coordinated approach to peacekeeping in Somalia. The agreement followed strategic negotiations between Somalia's leadership and Ethiopia, emphasizi...

  A New Chapter for Somalia: Examining the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission Somalia's journey towards stability has been a long and arduous one, marked by conflict and instability. The end of ATMIS's mandate has ushered in a new era for Somalia, with the establishment of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission (AUSSOM). This new mission aims to further support Somalia in its pursuit of peace and security, but it also faces significant challenges that could determine its success. Funding the Future of Somali Security AUSSOM's success hinges on securing adequate funding. Peacekeeping operations are notoriously expensive, and securing consistent and adequate funding is crucial for the mission to effectively carry out its mandate. Historically, the AU has encountered challenges in financing its missions, often relying heavily on external partners. This dependence can create vulnerabilities and limit the AU's autonomy in decision-making. ...

In December 2024, Ethiopia and Somalia reached a significant agreement in Ankara, Turkey, aimed at resolving tensions stemming from Ethiopia's maritime access ambitions and its dealings with Somaliland, a self-declared independent region of Somalia.  Background of the Dispute The discord originated in January 2024 when Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Somaliland. This MoU granted Ethiopia access to the port of Berbera in exchange for Ethiopia's future recognition of Somaliland's independence.  Somalia's federal government, which views Somaliland as part of its sovereign territory, perceived this agreement as a violation of its sovereignty, leading to heightened tensions between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu. Preliminary Agreed Discussion Points Under Turkish mediation, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud agreed to: Respect Sovereignty: Both nations committed to acknowledging and respecting each other's s...

Ethiopia and Somaliland sign deal to boost sea access and regional integration Ethiopia, a landlocked country with more than 100 million people, has taken a major step towards gaining access to the sea by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, a self-declared republic that seceded from Somalia more than 30 years ago. The MoU, signed by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi in Addis Ababa on 1 January 2024, grants Ethiopia naval and commercial access to ports along Somaliland’s coast, especially the strategic port of Berbera on the Gulf of Aden. In exchange, Ethiopia will recognize Somaliland’s independence, a significant move given Somaliland’s three-decade quest for international recognition. The deal, which was described as “historic” by both leaders, is expected to boost trade, security, and regional integration in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia, which lost its access to the sea when Eritrea seceded in the early 1990s, has be...

  Introduction : Somalia is a country in the Horn of Africa that has been plagued by conflict, instability, and poverty for decades. The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organization that promotes economic integration, cooperation, and development among its member states. In November 2023, Somalia was admitted as the eighth member of the EAC, joining Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.  The main argument of the article is that Somalia’s entry into the EAC is a strategic and beneficial decision that will open up new opportunities for trade, investment, security, and others including but not limited to: 1. Economic benefits : How Somalia can access a larger market, attract more investment, diversify its economy, and reduce trade barriers by joining the EAC. By becoming a member of the EAC, Somalia can access a larger market of over 200 million people and a combined GDP of over $200 billion1. T...

Introduction : Background of the AU mission in Somalia, its mandate, achievements, and challenges. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is a regional peacekeeping operation authorized by the United Nations Security Council in 2007 to support the Somali government in restoring peace and stability in the country. AMISOM’s mandate includes providing security for key institutions, facilitating humanitarian assistance, supporting the political process, and enabling the gradual transfer of security responsibilities to the Somali security forces. AMISOM has contributed to the liberation of most of the territory from the control of al-Shabaab, a militant Islamist group that has waged a violent insurgency against the Somali government and its allies. However, AMISOM has also faced many challenges, such as inadequate resources, logistical constraints, political divisions, human rights violations, and attacks from al-Shabaab and other armed groups. As of December 2023, AMISOM has about 1...

Civic engagement is a vital component of sustainable governance, as it allows citizens to actively participate in decision-making processes that affect their communities. In regard to reaching final solution to the three decade long chaos and anarchy in Somalia, it is crucial to adopt and implement civic engagement processes to reach consensus, acceptable and agreed governance where the rule of law, justice and freedom of speech are attained and excercised by the citizens regardless of their clan affiliation, political group etc. Here is a general civic engagement process for sustainable governance: 1. Identify the issue: The first step in the civic engagement process is to identify the issue or problem that needs to be addressed. This could be anything from environmental degradation to social inequality. 2. Conduct research: Once the issue has been identified, it is important to conduct research to fully understand the problem and its underlying causes. This could involve gathering da...

Somali economy is considered to be fragile due to a number of factors. One of the main reasons is the ongoing conflict and political instability in the country, which has led to a lack of investment, development, and trade. The country has been without a functioning central government for much of the past three decades, and this has resulted in a lack of basic services, such as healthcare and education, and widespread poverty. Another factor contributing to the fragility of the Somali economy is the lack of infrastructure, including roads, telecommunications, and electricity. This lack of infrastructure has made it difficult for businesses to operate and for goods and services to be transported throughout the country. Additionally, the Somali economy is heavily dependent on agriculture and livestock, which are vulnerable to fluctuations in weather patterns and disease outbreaks. This has resulted in frequent food shortages and famine, further exacerbating the fragility of the economy. ...