The African Perspective

WHY THE U.S REJECTED FUNDING THE NEW MISSION IN SOMALIA

1. The entire model of transitioning from the AU forces to the Somali National Army (SNA) was borrowed from the U.S' failed model of security transfers in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere. AU military commanders rejected the initiative since the idea was floated- claiming, it was an imported idea that wasn't lined with the realities on ground- It turns out they were right.

2. As a matter of principle, the United States does not want direct involvement in the deadly conflict for several historical and strategic reasons in Somalia, dating back to their failed involvement in the country more than three decades ago: Black Hawk Down days"

3. The United States is planning to cut its contribution to the UN that handles peacekeeping, signaling its bad appetite for funding conflicts they have have no direct control. The US also feels that there is a lot of "funding waste" in the UN. Relatedly, dismantling USAID speaks volumes about the current administration's policy on African stability and development. Closing more than half of the embassies in Africa is even clearer to where US- Africa policy stands. The eyes and ears are being closed.

4. Direct U.S involvement as a funder to Somalia's peace process puts it directly under Al-Shabaab's hate list (re-ignites hate against America by the militants). They don't want that.

5. During the 2017 debates on AMISOM's exit and Troop drawdown, the U.S. strongly supported Farmajo's administration on taking back their Security control, because they had trained more than 5000 of Somalia's elite forces, seen as capable of securing and protecting the president and the citizens. It turns out that many of these sophisticated SNA troops can't handle the resurgence of a more aggressive type of Al-Shabaab they see today. President Muhamood has called on the U.S for support after recent direct attacks on his convoy. Remember in Trump 1, he withdrew US forces from Somalia. Biden returned them, and of late, President Trump has praised the US army for hitting Al-Shabaab targets in Somalia. America can't handle ground fighting, they only help with aerial power attacks that act as force multipliers to support SNA and AU ground forces.

6. Generally, no donor wants to fund a war with no clear sight of how it will end, that's why we have the dangerous security transition during an active insurgency. Foreign donors are fatigued and have to find a smart way to leave without destroying their reputation. So they supported Farmajo's idea of owning their own security by letting the AU out via a half-baked transition. America can't own or fund this mess now, but can continue to support via their air power/ drone strikes they control, and training Somalia elite forces at the Dadaab training camp.

Somalia is in a security dilemma.

Author: Ruth Namatovu (DIA). Peace, Security & Conflict Analyst

WHY THE U.S REJECTED FUNDING THE NEW MISSION IN SOMALIA

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